The Palmomental Reflex

Abstract

In 300 subjects divided into three equal series of healthy adults, healthy newborn children and adults with neurological diseases, a clinical study of the palmomental reflex (PMR) is carried out, showing its methodology for the examination and appraisal of the reflex response. The PMR appears in 11% of the healthy adults, in 25% of the healthy newborn children and in 72% of the adults with neurological diseases. Habituation to the reflex response is significantly different in the three series, and this is the most important data to consider whether the PMR is physiological or pathological. No significant difference was objectified on evoking the reflex response by stimulation of the thenar region or the thumb.