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Babinski sign
System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Stroking the sole of the foot makes the big toe move upward and the other toes fan out, instead of curling downward.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with damage to the corticospinal (upper motor neuron) pathway in adults; it is a normal finding in infants up to about 12 months.
◈ Behind the name
Joseph Babinski (1857–1916), French neurologist, who described the extensor plantar response in 1896.
Related signs — Neurological Signs
Browse the B section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.