The Babinski Sign: Current Understanding of a Century-Old Observation

In this review article, Lance recounts the distinguished personal history of Babinski and acceptance of his astute observation and discusses derivative concepts developed during the past century regarding the pathophysiology, anatomic pathology, and diagnostic utility of the human plantar reflex. In humans, the Sherringtonian flexion reflex -- withdrawal from a nociceptive stimulus, as when one steps on a tack -- is a polysynaptic response with specific δ and C nerve-fiber afferents, most effectively …