The Reflexes Holding Your Child Back (and How to Fix Them) with Dani Perrecone & Paloma Garcia Cruz

In this episode, Dr. Rachel is joined by Dani Perrecone and Paloma Garcia Cruz, co-founders of In the Cortex, a program that helps children and adults overcome hidden neurological blocks through brain reorganization.

Dani and Paloma share their personal stories of living with disorganized brains, how they discovered the power of primitive reflex integration, and why so many behavioral, learning, and emotional struggles actually trace back to missed developmental movements in infancy.

Together, they explore the science of primitive reflexes, why retained reflexes can sabotage learning and emotional regulation, and how recreating early-life movements can unlock neuroplasticity at any age. From meltdowns over shoes to road rage in adulthood, they explain how unresolved reflexes shape lifelong patterns, and how parents can finally help their kids move past them.

We also dive into the systemic issues fueling these challenges, from modern birth interventions and overuse of baby gear to ever-expanding diagnostic criteria. With refreshing honesty and compassion, Dani and Paloma encourage parents to release guilt, embrace hope, and reclaim the natural movements that wire the brain for success.

Highlights:

• Dani and Paloma’s journey from disorganized brains to brain reorganization leaders
• What primitive reflexes are, and why they must integrate properly
• Signs of retained reflexes in children (meltdowns, sensory issues, attention struggles)
• How reflexes influence posture, coordination, and emotional regulation
• Neuroplasticity as the foundation of hope, brains can change at any age
• The link between trauma, retained reflexes, and emotional triggers
• Why modern lifestyles (swaddling, walkers, devices) disrupt brain development
• Practical ways parents can support reflex integration at home
• Conscious parenting, grace, and breaking cycles of inherited stress
  Case stories of children and adults transformed through brain reorganization
  
  
  

About Dani & Paloma
Dani Perrecone and Paloma Garcia Cruz are the founders of In the Cortex, an innovative program that rewires the brain by addressing retained primitive reflexes. With backgrounds in brain reorganization, child development, and neurodevelopmental disorders, they’ve helped countless families transform learning, behavior, and emotional well-being. Their mission is simple: empower parents and children with tools to unlock the brain’s full potential through movement, connection, and conscious parenting.

Website: www.inthecortex.com

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