The development of air-righting reflex in postnatal growing rabbits.

The investigations were carried out in 6 growing rabbits from the 5th day of life up to the 17th day in intervals of 3 days, as well as in 6 adult animals. The movements of the animals were filmed during free fall by means of a high speed camera (1000 pictures/s) in the frontal or the lateral view. The age-dependent development of head and shoulder rotation is described; the latency of this sensorimotor reaction decreases, and the head rotation velocity increases. The air-righting reflex is interpreted as a programmed command act. The postnatal changes in the timing of this reflex allow conclusions regarding the functional development of the spinal cord along the craniocaudal axis.