The effect of age, sex, and test posture on the incidence of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) in normal preschoolers was investigated. Head rotation and elbow flexion were measured by electro goniometry over eight trails in the supine posture and eight trails in quadrupedal posture. The number of trails elbows flexion greater than zero degrees for the starting position become the incidence score.
The mean incidence response was seven out of eight trails across age groups, sexes, and test postures. The results support the hypothesis that the presence of the ATNR response is normal in preschool children and suggest other clinical measures of ATNR abnormality be considered.
