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Babinski's Reflex
Alternate Names : Extensor Plantar Reflex, Reflex - Babinski's
DefinitionBabinski's reflex occurs when the great toe flexes toward the top of the foot and the other toes fan out after the sole of the foot has been firmly stroked. This is normal in younger children, but abnormal after the age of 2.
Overview & Considerations
Reflexes are specific, predictable, involuntary responses to a particular type of stimulation.
Babinski's reflex is one of the infantile reflexes. It is normal in children under 2 years old, but it disappears as the child ages and the nervous system becomes more developed.
In people more than 2 years old, the presence of a Babinski's reflex indicates damage to the nerve paths connecting the spinal cord and the brain (the corticospinal tract). Because this tract is right-sided and left-sided, a Babinski's reflex can occur on one side or on both sides.
An abnormal Babinski's reflex can be temporary or permanent.
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Jump to another section
• Definition
• Babinski's Reflex: Overview & Considerations
• Babinski's Reflex: Common Causes
• Babinski's Reflex: Home Care & Treatment
• Call your Health Care Provider if
• What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
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Review Date : 5/8/2003
Reviewed By : Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by Verimed Healthcare Network.
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