The tonic labyrinth reflex (TLR) affects all auditory, visual, and motor processes in humans. These include posture, balance, orientation, perception, and eye muscle function.
What is the tonic labyrinth reflex?
In the womb, the TLR is important for the unborn child to move into the extended position, allowing it to pass through the birth canal. The tonic labyrinth reflex, or TLR, is part of the early childhood reflexes. In the womb, the TLR is important in getting the unborn child into the extended position so that it can pass through the birth canal. In the first three months, the reflex is physiologically expressed. It causes newborns to stretch from the fetal position into the straight position against gravity. After a few months, the TLR becomes more and more inhibited. A distinction is made between the forward and backward TLR. In the forward TLR, the newborn bends the head forward, which is followed by flexion of the whole body. In the backward TLR, the infant stretches the head backward, which results in an extension of the entire body. If the newborn is lying on its stomach, the head and spine remain extended. There is no automatic head rotation. The legs are pulled under the torso by bringing them sideways. Thus, from the head down, the tonic labyrinth reflex affects muscle tone throughout the body. Thus, central circuits of stimulus reception and processing are touched.
Function and task
The tonic labyrinth reflex affects many functional areas in the human organism. It is responsible for head control and muscle tone, as well as basic visual figure perception. But it also controls spatial and auditory perception and the establishment and maintenance of balance. How well or poorly the later sense of time is developed is also controlled by it. How well or poorly we see is also within its sphere of influence. Likewise, the visual ability to distinguish, for example, between b and d, 32 and 23, or left and right sides, belongs to it. Therefore, also the learning of the pointer clock and the temporal orientation ability are assigned to these connections. It depends on the TLR forward how the posture develops and presents itself. Also the elementary important muscle tension, the interest in active movement, especially in the form of sports, but also the human sense of time and the spatial orientation, so that the human being can find his way without the help of others, depend on and are shaped by the TLR forward. It depends on the tonic labyrinth reflex backward whether there is physical stiffness or a tendency to tiptoe. The same is true for physical balance and movement coordination. The TLR backward also influences whether the extensor muscles have a stronger influence than the flexor muscles and whether stiff jerky movements occur. Thus, the benefit of the TLR lies in its importance to the smooth functioning of all the senses. Each of these active functional areas is unique in its assigned function. It is therefore of great importance for humans that all processes function for their auditory, visual and motor possibilities. Only in this way is unrestricted perception via the human senses and the manual performance of all activities, including body control, possible.
Diseases and ailments
Inadequate muscle tone, impaired visual figure-ground perception, and moderately developed head control may be attributed to the continued influence of the TLR. Balance problems, impaired spatial perception, and auditory processing dysfunction and serial deficits or poorly developed sense of time have also been reported. Likewise, problems in action and movement planning (dyspraxia) have been demonstrated. Ultimately, even mild to severe arithmetic problems may result. If tonus disorders are present in the mouth region, jaw malpositions and disturbed speech development may result. Chewing and swallowing difficulties may also develop. A strong flow of saliva (hypersalivation) is also frequently observed. If the TLR is not inhibited correctly, the effects can be severe if the head is tilted forward.Beginning with limited ability to crawl on hands and knees, a hunched back, hunched shoulders, bent legs, compensatory movements of the arms and legs, and dizziness with or without disorientation may occur. The TLR backward is often not fully developed when the normal birth process is disrupted. Problems with inhibition of the TLR can already be assumed at that time. Specifically, deficits that occur with the head tilted backward include:
- A more or less pronounced hollow back
- Increasing body tension up to walking on the tips of the toes or balls of the feet
- Balancing arm movements
- Dizziness attacks with or without disorientation.
If residual TLR responses persist, there is increased evidence of moderate organizational ability and travel nausea. An immature head position reflex may result in impaired ocular function and, more broadly, disruption of the interaction of the eyes, ears and body movement sensation. Certain processing centers in the brain, such as the sense of balance, may also be impaired. This, in turn, can often cause misdiagnosed performance impairments or performance disorders. Auditory and/or visual perception is also frequently impaired. In many cases, there is a pronounced aversion to sports activities. It is also not uncommon to have limited recognition and adherence to numerical sequences.
