Synonyms
Definition
The glabellar reflex is elicited by repeatedly tapping the patient between the eyebrows (the glabella area), causing them to blink. Normally, the adult patient habituates to the stimulus, and ceases blinking after a few taps. If blinking persists, it is abnormal in adults. It is best to stand on the side of the patient and softly tap the glabellar area with a reflex hammer from above to avoid eliciting the blink reflex to threat. It is one of the frontal release signs, primitive reflexes that are normal in infants, disappear with brain maturation allowing inhibition, and reappear (are “released”) in disorders that affect the frontal lobes. Like most primitive reflexes, the glabellar reflex probably has evolutionary/adaptive advantage in infant apes, protecting the eyes from threat.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References and Readings
Goetz, C. G. (2007). Textbook of clinical neurology(3rd ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Salloway, S.P. (2011). Glabellar Reflex. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1897
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79948-3_1897
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-79947-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79948-3
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science