Supporting Mental Health Outcomes with Neurodevelopmental Movements and LENS

By Christine Durfee, PhD, and Sonia Story, MS

Neurodevelopmental movements are innate movements that are a natural part of human development. They are the automatic, stereotypical movements in which all healthy infants are engaged during womb life, birth, and infancy. The neurodevelopmental movements promote brain, body, and sensory development and are fundamental for fueling the high rate of brain growth seen in infancy—they also show great promise to address mental health challenges throughout the lifespan.

Among these neurodevelopmental movements are innate rhythmic movements and primitive reflex movements. These special movements are controlled by the brainstem and central nervous system and, in healthy infant development, they “allow connection of the different brain regions which will later be important for the learning process, behaviour, communication and emotions” (RashikJ & Mihajlovska, 2019 pg. 514). Delayed maturation of these neurodevelopmental movements is associated with neurological behavioral disorders. Here is a list of social-emotional and mental health challenges associated with immature, or retained primitive reflexes:

  • Severe emotional and behavioral challenges (Taylor et al., 2020)
  • Poor attention and opposition-defiance (Hickey & Feldhacker, 2022) 

  • Weak emotional regulation (Grzywniak, 2017)

  • Anxiety (Carter, 2020; Forrest, 2002)

  • Schizo­phrenia in adults (Hyde et al., 2007; Murray et al., 2006)
  • Mania (Mehta et al., 2019)
  • Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks, (Morgan-Brown, 1997)
  • Social and language impairments (Bradshaw et al., 2023; McPhillips et al., 2014)
  • ADHD (Wang et al., 2023; Konicarova et al., 2014; Konicarova & Bob, 2013; Konicarova et al., 2013; Taylor et al., 2004)

Melillo (2011) noted that immature or retained primitive reflexes ”…may lead to desynchronization, underconnectivity, and ultimately a functional disconnection between regions of the brain and cortex”. Research advancing the knowledge of primitive reflexes, has inspired methods of integrating (maturing) reflexes such as:

The Brain and Sensory Foundations program combines innate rhythmic movements, primitive reflex integration, and other neurodevelopmental movements, and is unique in that Mental Health professionals can earn CEUs via the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC).

There is limited awareness among mental health professionals about the use of neurodevelopmental movements and primitive reflex integration. Nevertheless, the use of neurodevelopmental movements in mental health contexts is supported by research. Stephens-Sarlós et al., (2024) studied a group of older adult individuals, who participated in neurodevelopmental movements to reduce the level of unintegrated primitive reflexes. They found that as primitive reflexes were integrated (matured) for individuals in the experimental group, their cognitive function increased and measures of well-being were significantly greater than for those in the control group.

Utilizing a primitive reflex integration method as well as neurofeedback has proven to be an effective combination for multiple diagnoses. We can accomplish brain changes from the “inside out” by maturing the brain via the use of neurodevelopmental movements, and organizing the brain via Low Energy Neurofeedback (LENS). While each modality is viable on its own, the combination of neurodevelopmental movements with LENS has resulted in faster and more sustainable results.

Similar to LENS and other neurofeedback programs, primitive reflex integration has mostly been a viable resource for cash pay clients. However, Licensed Professional Counselor billing codes are based on time. Therefore, mental health counselors who utilize both LENS and neurodevelopmental movements in conjunction with other evidence-based practice can include insurance payees. Consequently, populations of varying socioeconomic classes who prefer modalities outside of medications are served.

Example Case Studies by Christine Durfee, PhD

Case Study 1

A mother and two daughters came in for mental health services approximately 2 years after the father committed suicide outside their home. The family had been receiving supports prior, however, the oldest daughter attempted suicide and after being discharged from an inpatient facility she was referred to me for services. In the context of CBT and Family Systems Therapy, I began using LENS with the oldest daughter to decrease the depression and anxiety. Soon after, the other two family members participated with the LENS. All three reported a decrease in symptoms. However, the oldest daughter continued to have persistent low levels of depression. The Moro primitive reflex assessment was conducted with the oldest daughter, and the reflex was discovered to be unintegrated. The basic innate rhythmic movements and Moro reflex integration movements were added to the oldest daughter’s treatment plan, which resulted in complete cessation of presenting symptoms.

Case Study 2

A seven-year-old boy with ADHD symptoms was referred for services by a psychiatrist who offered the parents alternative therapies to medication. The mother and father had separated, however, both were vested in their child and co-parented agreeably by attending family therapy sessions and other appointments such as medical and school. The ADHD symptoms were better explained by adjustment disorder according to the DSM. The treatment plan consisted of CBT, family dynamics, LENS and neurodevelopmental movements, including both innate rhythmic movements and primitive reflex integration. Adjustment disorder is an indicator of a lack of resilience to stressful changes. Masgutova et al. (2017, p. 152) conducted a study showing that regulation of stress levels and increases in the ability to cope may be accomplished by using the primitive reflex movements. The boy met all treatment goals. Several years after the termination of services, the boy experienced a traumatic event when his father committed suicide. Mother and son resumed services and the boy’s trauma response indicated an ongoing pattern of resilience.

Giving clients brain-based sensory-motor activities in conjunction with neurofeedback can be an excellent way to address mental health challenges for clients of all ages.

Go to free resources for Mental Health and Social Work Professionals

References

Bob, P., Konicarova, J., & Raboch, J. (2021). Disinhibition of primitive reflexes in attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder: Insight into specific mechanisms in girls and boys. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 430685.

Bradshaw, J., Shi, D., Federico, A., Klaiman, C., & Saulnier, C. (2023). The pull-to-sit task: examining infant postural development in autism spectrum disorder. The Journal of Pediatrics, 253, 225-231.

Carter, T. L. (2020). An exploration of the relationship between unintegrated primitive reflexes and symptoms of anxiety in children between 10-13 years in the Western Cape Province of South Africa [Doctoral dissertation. University of South Africa].

Forrest, D. S. (2002). Prevalence of retained primitive reflexes in patients with anxiety disorders. [Doctoral Dissertation, Annexe Thesis Digitisation Project 2017 Block 16.]

Grzywniak, Celestyna. (2017). Integration exercise programme for children with learning difficulties who have preserved vestigial primitive reflexes. Acta Neuropsychologica, 15. 10.5604/01.3001.0010.5491.

Hickey, J., & Feldhacker, D. R. (2022). Primitive reflex retention and attention among preschool children. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention, 15(1), 1-13.

Hyde, T. M., Goldberg, T. E., Egan, M. F., Lener, M. C., & Weinberger, D. R. (2007). Frontal release signs and cognition in people with schizophrenia, their siblings and healthy controls. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 191(2), 120-125.

Konicarova, J., & Bob, P. (2013). Asymmetric tonic neck reflex and symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children. International Journal of Neuroscience, 123(11), 766-769.

Konicarova, J., Bob, P., & Raboch, J. (2014). Balance deficits and ADHD symptoms in medication-naïve school-aged boys. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 85.

Konicarova, J., Bob, P., & Raboch, J. (2013). Persisting primitive reflexes in medication-naïve girls with attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 1457.

McPhillips, M., Finlay, J., Bejerot, S., & Hanley, M. (2014). Motor deficits in children with autism spectrum disorder: A cross-syndrome study. Autism Research, 7(6), 664-676.

Mehta, U. M., Sanjay, T. N., Venkatasubramanian, G., & Muralidharan, K. (2019). Cortical inhibition and primitive reflexes in remitted first-episode mania. Brain Stimulation: Basic, Translational, and Clinical Research in Neuromodulation, 12(4), 1093-1094.

Melillo, R. (2011). Primitive reflexes and their relationship to delayed cortical maturation, under connectivity and functional disconnection in childhood neurobehavioral disorders. Functional Neurology, Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics, 1(2), 279.

Morgan-Brown, M. (1997). An association of the asymmetrical tonic neck reflex (ATNR) and agoraphobia and panic attacks. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 60(5), 223-225.

Murray, G. K., Jones, P. B., Moilanen, K., Veijola, J., Miettunen, J., Cannon, T. D., & Isohanni, M. (2006). Infant motor development and adult cognitive functions in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Research, 81(1), 65-74.

Radoman, M., Akinbo, F. D., Rospenda, K. M., & Gorka, S. M. (2019). The impact of startle reactivity to unpredictable threat on the relation between bullying victimization and internalizing psychopathology. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 119, 7-13.

Rashikj Canevska, O., & Mihajlovska, M. (2019). Persistence of primitive reflexes and associated problems in children. Годишен зборник на Филозофскиот факултет/Annuaire de la Faculté de Philosophie.

Stephens-Sarlós, E., Toth, E., Ihász, F., Alföldi, Z., Somogyi, A., & Szabo, A. (2024). Changes in primitive reflexes in older adults and their relationship to mental health indices: An experimental investigation. Experimental Gerontology, 196, 112583.

Taylor, B., Hanna, D., & McPhillips, M. (2020). Motor problems in children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 90(3), 719–735.

Taylor, M., Houghton, S., & Chapman, E. (2004). Primitive reflexes and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Developmental origins of classroom dysfunction. International Journal of Special Education, 19(1), 23-37.

Wang, M., Yu, J., Kim, H. D., & Cruz, A. B. (2023). Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is associated with (a) symmetric tonic neck primitive reflexes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 14, 1175974.