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. 2025 Apr 28;7(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s42466-025-00389-w

Table 2.

Motor neuron signs and symptoms (according to gold Coast criteria [41])

Region Upper motor neuron (UMN) Lower motor neuron (LMN)
Head

• slowed, poorly coordinated voluntary movement of the tongue (reduced range of motion, difficulty with lateral movements)

• hyperreflexia of mandibular reflex (jaw jerk positive)

• palatal spasticity (abnormal, uncoordinated or excessive movement of the palate)

• snout reflex (pathological reflex)

• tongue wasting

• palatal weakness and fasciculations

Arm

• Increased velocity-dependent tone (spasticity) in hand and arm

• slowed, poorly coordinated voluntary movement in hand, arm or shoulder

• hyperreflexia

• preserved reflexes in wasted or weak muscles

• spread of reflexes to adjacent muscles

• Hoffman´s sign (pathological reflex)

• weakness of hand, arm or shoulder muscles and muscle wasting

• absent reflexes

Trunk

• slowed, poorly coordinated voluntary movement during respiration or trunk movements

• pathological paraspinal and abdominal reflexes

• weakness of paraspinal, costal and abdominal muscles and muscle wasting
Leg

• Increased velocity-dependent tone (spasticity) in foot, leg or hip

• slowed, poorly coordinated voluntary movement of foot, leg or hip

• hyperreflexia

• preserved reflexes in wasted or weak muscles

• spread of reflexes to adjacent muscles

• Babinski sign (commonly not present)

• crossed adductor reflex

• weakness of foot, leg or hip muscles and muscle wasting

• absent reflexes