Many people have never heard of the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)—yet this primitive reflex plays a crucial role in early brain development. If it remains active beyond infancy, it can interfere with reading, writing, coordination, balance, and even focus.
If you or your child struggle with difficulties in hand-eye coordination, writing, reading, attention, or posture, an unintegrated ATNR could be the root cause.
In this article, we’ll cover:
- What the ATNR is and why it’s important
- Signs that the ATNR is still active in children and adults
- How an unintegrated ATNR affects learning, motor skills, and brain development
- How Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT) can help integrate this reflex naturally
What Is the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)?
The ATNR develops in utero and is fully present at birth. It plays a critical role in a baby’s early motor development by helping with:
- Navigating the birth canal during delivery
- Hand-eye coordination and reaching for objects
- Preparing the body for rolling, crawling, and later movement patterns
How Does the ATNR Work?
The ATNR is triggered when a baby turns its head to one side. The reflex causes:
- The arm and leg on the same side to extend (straighten out)
- The arm and leg on the opposite side to flex (bend in)
This ”fencing position” helps develop bilateral coordination, meaning the ability to use both sides of the body together.
When Should the ATNR Disappear?
The ATNR should integrate by six months of age as higher brain centers develop. If it remains active beyond this stage, it can create challenges with coordination, balance, and learning.
Signs of a Retained ATNR
A retained ATNR can interfere with the body’s ability to coordinate movements, focus, and process visual information. Here are the most common symptoms:
1. Learning and Academic Difficulties
- Struggles with reading fluency (losing place, skipping words)
- Difficulty with writing and spacing letters correctly
- Poor handwriting and letter reversals (b, d, p, q)
- Tires quickly when doing schoolwork
A retained ATNR causes eye tracking difficulties, making it harder to follow words across a page. It also affects fine motor control, making writing physically tiring.
2. Poor Hand-Eye Coordination and Clumsiness
- Trouble catching or hitting a ball
- Struggles with sports and activities requiring both hands
- Messy eater, often knocking over drinks or dropping utensils
- Difficulty tying shoelaces, buttoning clothes, or using scissors
The ATNR plays a key role in developing cross-body coordination. If it remains active, simple tasks requiring both hands to work together become difficult.
3. Difficulty Crossing the Midline
- Has trouble writing across a page without lifting the hand
- Uses both hands interchangeably instead of developing a dominant hand
- Struggles with cross-body movements (touching right hand to left knee)
Crossing the midline is essential for reading, writing, and whole-body coordination. A retained ATNR can cause the body to favor one side, limiting movement and fine motor development.
4. Posture, Balance, and Physical Tension
- Awkward or stiff walking pattern
- Poor sitting posture, often slumping forward
- Muscle tension and discomfort, especially in the neck and shoulders
- Motion sickness or dizziness
A retained ATNR can make coordinated movement more effortful, leading to muscle fatigue and tension. Many children and adults with a retained ATNR struggle to sit upright for long periods.
5. Attention and Focus Challenges
- Easily distracted, trouble staying on task
- Struggles with following multi-step instructions
- May show hyperactive or impulsive behavior (often misdiagnosed as ADHD)
Since the ATNR affects eye tracking, hand control, and motor planning, it can make learning feel overwhelming. The extra effort required for writing and reading can lead to fatigue, frustration, and avoidance of schoolwork.
How an Unintegrated ATNR Affects the Brain and Body
A retained ATNR can disrupt brain-body coordination, leading to:
- Inefficient hand-eye coordination, affecting sports, writing, and fine motor skills
- Eye-tracking issues, making reading difficult and tiring
- Postural instability, leading to slouching or discomfort while sitting
- Poor bilateral integration, making tasks requiring both hands more difficult
- Increased mental effort for learning, leading to fatigue and focus difficulties
Because the ATNR plays a role in early sensory and motor development, a retained ATNR can create neurological stress, making everyday tasks harder than they should be.
How to Integrate the ATNR Naturally
Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training (BRMT) is a movement-based approach designed to help integrate primitive reflexes naturally and gently.
How Does It Work?
BRMT uses simple, rhythmic movements that replicate the natural reflex-integration process of infancy. These movements help strengthen brain-body connections and promote automatic coordination.
Effective Rhythmic Movements for ATNR Integration
- Cross-Body Arm and Leg Movements
- Stand tall and touch your left hand to your right knee, then switch sides.
- Strengthens coordination and midline crossing.
- Rocking on Hands and Knees
- Get into a crawling position and gently rock back and forth.
- Encourages balance, stability, and coordination.
- Head-Turn Coordination Exercises
- Lie on your back and slowly turn your head to one side while reaching with the opposite arm.
- Trains the brain to integrate head and body movement.
- Eye-Tracking and Midline Exercises
- Follow a moving object with your eyes without moving your head.
- Helps improve reading fluency and visual processing.
Consistent daily practice of these exercises can help the brain complete its natural development process, leading to improved coordination, focus, and learning ability.
How Long Does It Take to Integrate the ATNR?
- Children may see improvements in three to six months with regular practice.
- Adults with long-term retention may take six to twelve months for full integration.
- Emotional releases may occur as neurological connections reorganize.
Each individual progresses at their own pace, but regular practice is key.
Why Addressing the ATNR Matters
A retained ATNR can create lifelong struggles with reading, writing, coordination, and focus. But with the right movement-based approach, these challenges can be resolved naturally.
By integrating the ATNR, individuals can experience:
- Improved hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills
- Easier reading, writing, and academic performance
- Better posture, balance, and physical stability
- Increased focus, impulse control, and attention span
If you or your child are struggling with signs of a retained ATNR, Blomberg Rhythmic Movement Training offers a proven, natural solution to help rewire and optimize the nervous system.