The Neurological Examination of the Full Term Newborn Infant

Dr. Prechtl’s manual on the neurological examination of the newborn infant will be welcomed by clinicians and researchers alike. It aims to introduce a method of standardization in appraising newborn reflexes. Because of inadequate standardization, it has heretofore been difficult to detect signs of brain damage during the neonatal period, or prior to the beginning maturation of cortical cells. Now that knowledge of neural functioning in the brain stem, especially the reticular activating system, is advancing, the reflex behavior of the newborn takes on greater significance and warrants careful investigation. The text provides a simplified way of coding and recording reflex behavior. A common method of recording will be invaluable to the various investigators who are once again devoting attention to the significance of newborn behavior.