Glabellar Reflex

Overview

• • How to Elicit

  • Percuss repeatedly between the eyebrows, looking for reactive blinking.

• • Interpretation

  • Decreased - no blinking in response to stimulusOphthalmic nerve (V1) / facial nerve (VII) palsy, pons / medullary lesion
  • Normal - up to five blinks and then no further blinking following habitualization
• The glabellar reflex is a primitive reflex - normally present in infants and absent in adults. In the case of frontal lobe damage, ‘frontal release' signs such as glabellar, grasp, suck, snout and palmomental reflexes will be present.