Reflex Movements in Response to Brain Damage
Decorticateanddecerebrateposturingare different reflexes that are both signs of severe brain damage.
Additionally, the postures themselves are not dangerous or harmfulthey are visible consequences of severe brain damage.
Neurological Effects
Decerebrate and decorticate posturing develop as a result of extensive nerve damage in the brain.
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The nerves in the brain communicate with each other to stimulate and inhibit brain activity.
Extensive brain damage leads to impairment of nerves that promote movement.
The imbalance can cause either decerebrate or decorticate posture and often eventually results inbrain death.
Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health
However, more detailed information about brain structure has become available withelectroencephalogram(EEG) monitoring and neuroimaging.
These conditions do not last for a long period of time and are generally associated with impending death.
For example,cerebral palsymay cause sustained flexion for extension of the extremities.
In such conditions, the muscle stiffness or spasms could potentially be treated with physical therapy.
doi:10.1136/bcr-2023-254966
Knight J, Decker LC.Decerebrate and decorticate posturing.
In: StatPearls [Internet].
Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2024 Jan. PMID: 32644561.
2021;21(4):250-251. doi:10.1177/15357597211004281
