Oculomotor and Postural Patterns in Schizophrenic Children

Abstract

The persistence of primitive postural and righting reflexes in schizophrenic children has been stressed by Lauretta Bender and her associates.^1-3They claim that such reflexes, particularly the tonic neck reflex, are retained in these children far beyond the normal age and are a manifestation of a disturbance in the maturational processes. The studies by Silver⁴and Teicher⁵of the postural and righting responses of schizophrenic children support these concepts. These children had no signs of neurologic disease as measured by standard techniques. They did show motor disturbances when examined in special ways, e. g., whirling when the head was passively rotated, a phenomenon also found in children with organic brain disease.⁶ Although Bender^1-3stresses the role of tonic neck reflexes in the motility patterns of schizophrenic children, and Schilder⁷emphasized the importance of vestibular function in psychosis, there has been no survey of the