The Babinski reflex, named after the French neurologist Josef Babinski, is produced by firmly stroking the lateral border of the sole of the foot. This action causes the dorsiflexion of the big toe and the fanning of the other toes. The reflex is normal in newborns. If it exists in children or adults, it may indicate neurological damage, usually a lesion in the pyramidal tract. An opposite reflex, the plantar reflex, is a superficial reflex that occurs in older children and adults. It is easily evaluated. Using a moderately sharp object, the lateral border of the sole of the foot is stroked, starting at the heel and continuing to the ball of the foot, and then proceeding across the ball of the foot toward the big toe. This stimulus should cause all five toes to bend downward. Research Babinski Reflex
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Abbreviations
Research Babinski Reflex
