Extension of the big toe upward and the spreading out of the other toes when the external portion of the newborn’s foot is stroked from the back of the heel to base of the toes (see figure below). Absent when there is damage to the lower spinal cord. First reported by François F. Babinski (1857-1932) in 1896 as ‘reflex butane plantaire’ (cutaneous plantar reflex) although there is evidence that it is portrayed in the paintings of Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and Raphael (1483-1520). If the response can still be elicited in a child over two who performs toe walking 90% of time, it has been suggested that doing so at this age indicate autism.
