The grasp reflex is significant of frontal lobe lesions. It is regarded as a release phenomenon and occurs normally in infants below one year of age. The grasp reflex probably is the result of tonic innervation’s, due to stretch, hence is proprioceptive in nature. Fulton has shown that the grasp reflex is an integral part of the body righting reflex mechanism and varies with the position of the body in space parallel with the righting reflexes. In the bilateral motor promoter ablated (thalamic) animal, the grasp reflex is elicited in the upper, most flexed limb and not in the extended limbs on the side on which the animal lies. The grasp movement is elicited by stroking the palms and the finger which result in closure of the hand on the stimulating object. Probably the promoter region, Broadmen are 6 of the frontal lobe has to do with this reflex. Both grasping and groping occur in patients who are not stupor us though the first may be elicited in more dulled individuals, but it is a question whether there is a groping reflex. Barraquer, Brain and Curran have described a similar foot grasp reflex.

The mass reflex described by Rid-dock may be elicited by stimuli below the level of the lesion in severe injury or complete interruptions of the spinal cord. It consists of the flexion reflex, contraction of the abdominal wall, automatic evacuation of the bladder and sweating of the skin below the level of the lesion.

The oculocardiac reflexes. Pressure on the eye balls normally causes slowing of the pulse rate by about eight to ten beats. The reflex arc is by way of the trigemius (afferent) to the automatic vagus center in the bulb and by way of the vagus to the heart. The reflex is diminished or absent in sympathicotonics and exaggerated in vagotonics.