<p><a href="https://www.retainedneonatalreflexes.com.au/reflexes/reflexes-fear-paralysis-reflex/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Taken from here</a></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The Fear Paralysis Reflex begins to function very early after
conception and should normally be integrated before birth.  It can be
seen in the womb as movement of the head, neck and body in response to
threat.</p>
<p>It is sometimes classified as a withdrawal reflex rather than
a primitive reflex. If this reflex is retained after birth, it can be
characterised by withdrawal, reticence at being involved in anything
new, fear of different circumstances, and is often described as the
“scaredy cat” child who bears the brunt of teasing by normally
adventurous children.</p>
<p><strong>This behaviour appears to be
due to the reflex’s involvement with the parasympathetic nervous
system.</strong>  <strong>Most of us are familiar with the “fight or flight” adrenalin
rush of the sympathetic nervous system, however the FPR taps into the
opposing system urging the body to “eat and stay”.</strong>  The
parasympathetic nervous system is intimately involved with the vagus
nerve.  This nerve comes directly from the brain to aid the organs.
It bypasses the spinal cord, so in the case of spinal injury we are
still able to digest our food.  The vagus nerve may be mechanically
trapped in the skull, chest, abdomen or neck.  Release of this nerve
entrapment corrects one physical factor that contributes to the
retention of the FPR.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-12-20T15:42:26.637Z
2016-12-20T15:42:26.637Z
2020-06-17T09:55:31.633Z
Matas Vaitkevicius
<p>(This question is in relation <a href="https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/16431/how-can-fear-paralysis-be-overcome">to this question here</a>)</p>

<p>How does fear paralysis occur? What is the mechanism that makes this happen in brain?</p>

<fear>
How does fear paralysis occur?
Matas Vaitkevicius
# How does fear paralysis occur?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-12-20)

(This question is in relation [to this question here](https://cogsci.stackexchange.com/questions/16431/how-can-fear-paralysis-be-overcome))

How does fear paralysis occur? What is the mechanism that makes this happen in brain?

**Tags:** fear


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2016-12-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

[Taken from here](https://www.retainedneonatalreflexes.com.au/reflexes/reflexes-fear-paralysis-reflex/)

> The Fear Paralysis Reflex begins to function very early after
> conception and should normally be integrated before birth. It can be
> seen in the womb as movement of the head, neck and body in response to
> threat.
>
> It is sometimes classified as a withdrawal reflex rather than
> a primitive reflex. If this reflex is retained after birth, it can be
> characterised by withdrawal, reticence at being involved in anything
> new, fear of different circumstances, and is often described as the
> “scaredy cat” child who bears the brunt of teasing by normally
> adventurous children.
>
> **This behaviour appears to be
> due to the reflex’s involvement with the parasympathetic nervous
> system.** **Most of us are familiar with the “fight or flight” adrenalin
> rush of the sympathetic nervous system, however the FPR taps into the
> opposing system urging the body to “eat and stay”.** The
> parasympathetic nervous system is intimately involved with the vagus
> nerve. This nerve comes directly from the brain to aid the organs.
> It bypasses the spinal cord, so in the case of spinal injury we are
> still able to digest our food. The vagus nerve may be mechanically
> trapped in the skull, chest, abdomen or neck. Release of this nerve
> entrapment corrects one physical factor that contributes to the
> retention of the FPR.


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