Most people have never heard of the Moro reflex, yet this early-life survival response can significantly impact emotional regulation, focus, and sensory processing if it remains active beyond infancy.
If you or your child struggle with anxiety, hypersensitivity, attention difficulties, or coordination issues, an unintegrated Moro reflex could be the missing link.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What the Moro reflex is and why it’s important
- Signs that the Moro reflex is still active in children and adults
- How an unintegrated Moro reflex affects emotional regulation, sensory processing, and learning
- How Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT) can help integrate the reflex naturally
What Is the Moro Reflex?
The Moro reflex, also called the startle reflex, is an automatic response that develops in the womb around 9 to 12 weeks gestation and is present at birth. It is triggered when a baby experiences a sudden loss of support, a loud noise, or a change in environment. The response consists of:
- A sudden extension of the arms and legs
- A quick drawing in of the limbs as if grasping for support
- Crying or distress
This reflex is a crucial survival mechanism that prepares the newborn to react to potential danger. It also stimulates brain development by activating the vestibular system (balance), sensory processing pathways, and stress regulation mechanisms.
When Should the Moro Reflex Disappear?
The Moro reflex should naturally integrate by four to six months of age as the brain matures. However, if it remains active, it can lead to chronic stress responses, anxiety, and sensory processing challenges in children and adults.
Signs of a Retained Moro Reflex
If the Moro reflex is not integrated, the nervous system remains hypersensitive, leading to emotional, sensory, and cognitive challenges.
1. Anxiety, Emotional Sensitivity, and Hyperreactivity
- Overreacts to loud noises, bright lights, or sudden movements
- Easily startled or jumpy
- Struggles with transitions and changes in routine
- Frequent mood swings or emotional outbursts
The nervous system remains in a constant state of ”fight-or-flight,” making it hard to stay calm.
2. Sensory Overload and Hypersensitivity
- Overwhelmed by loud sounds, bright lights, or crowded places
- Dislikes certain clothing textures, food textures, or physical touch
- Strong dislike of haircuts, brushing teeth, or wearing tight clothing
The Moro reflex is linked to sensory processing; if unintegrated, sensory input can feel intensely overwhelming.
3. Attention and Learning Challenges
- Easily distracted or struggles to focus
- Hyperactivity or impulsivity, often misdiagnosed as ADHD
- Difficulty with reading, writing, and following multi-step instructions
The Moro reflex interferes with the development of brain connections needed for focus and impulse control.
4. Poor Coordination and Balance
- Frequent tripping or difficulty riding a bike
- Motion sickness or dizziness
- Difficulty with sports, skipping, or crossing the midline (moving the right hand across to the left side of the body)
The Moro reflex is linked to the vestibular system, which controls balance and coordination.
5. Fight-or-Flight Stress Responses
- Hypervigilance, always feeling on edge
- Frequent stress or panic attacks
- Sleep disturbances, including night waking or difficulty falling asleep
The body remains stuck in survival mode, triggering high cortisol levels (the stress hormone).
If you or your child relate to multiple signs, an unintegrated Moro reflex may be affecting daily life. The good news is that it can be integrated with the right approach.
How an Unintegrated Moro Reflex Affects the Brain and Body
A retained Moro reflex keeps the body in a constant state of alertness. This leads to:
- Overactive fight-or-flight responses, increasing stress hormone levels
- Disrupted sensory processing, making sound, light, and touch feel overwhelming
- Weak brain-body coordination, causing balance and motor skill difficulties
- Emotional dysregulation, leading to mood swings and social challenges
This constant neurological stress makes it harder to focus, learn, and feel calm.
How to Integrate the Moro Reflex Naturally
Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT) is a movement-based approach designed to help integrate primitive reflexes naturally.
How Does It Work?
BRMT uses gentle, repetitive movements that mimic early infant reflexes, helping the brain complete its natural development. These movements:
- Strengthen brain-body communication
- Regulate sensory processing
- Improve balance, coordination, and motor skills
- Promote emotional stability and impulse control
Effective Rhythmic Movements for Moro Reflex Integration
- Rocking and Rolling Movements
- Lie on your back and gently rock side to side.
- Helps calm the nervous system and improve coordination.
- Cross-Body Movements
- While standing, touch your left hand to your right knee, then switch sides.
- Strengthens left-right brain communication and impulse control.
- Slow, Deep Breathing and Gentle Head Movements
- Focus on slow, rhythmic breathing while moving the head in small circular motions.
- Helps regulate stress responses and sensory processing.
- Spinal Extension and Core Activation
- Lie on your stomach and lift the upper body slightly while keeping the arms extended.
- Encourages postural stability and nervous system regulation.
Consistent daily practice of these exercises can help integrate the Moro reflex, leading to improved focus, reduced anxiety, and better sensory regulation.
How Long Does It Take to Integrate the Moro Reflex?
- Children may see improvements in three to six months of consistent practice.
- Adults with long-term retention may take six to twelve months for full integration.
- Some individuals may experience emotional releases as the nervous system reorganizes.
For best results, it’s important to adjust exercises as needed and work with a trained BRMT practitioner for personalized support.
Why Addressing the Moro Reflex Matters
A retained Moro reflex can create lifelong challenges with stress regulation, sensory processing, and learning. But with the right movement-based approach, these challenges can be resolved naturally.
By integrating the Moro reflex, individuals can experience:
- Reduced anxiety and stress responses
- Improved focus and impulse control
- Better emotional regulation and social skills
- Enhanced balance, coordination, and sensory processing
If you or your child are struggling with symptoms of a retained Moro reflex, Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training offers a proven, natural solution to help rewire and optimize the nervous system.
Want to learn more? Find a BRMT class or practitioner near you → [Click here] (insert link).