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Palmomental reflex
System: Neurological Signs · All neurological signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
Firmly stroking the palm of the hand makes the chin muscle on the same side twitch briefly.
What a positive finding suggests
A frontal release sign, associated with frontal lobe or diffuse cerebral dysfunction; it can also be seen in some healthy older adults.
◈ Behind the name
Described by Gheorghe Marinescu and Anghel Radovici, Romanian neurologists, in 1920.
Related signs — Neurological Signs
Browse the P 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.