Research
Evaluating Primitive Reflexes in Early Childhood as a Potential Biomarker for Developmental Disabilities
The Relationship between Retained Primitive Reflexes and Hemispheric Connectivity in Autism Spectrum Disorders
The study assessed ASD children and adults all possessing retained primitive reflexes (RPRs) compared with a control group that did not attempt to reduce or remove those RPRs and then examined the effects on qEEG and brain network connectivity. Methods: Analysis of qEEG spectral and functional connectivity was performed, to identify associations with the presence or absence of retained primitive reflexes (RPRs), before and after an intervention based on TENS unilateral stimulation.
Dr. Melillo Research
Download the most updated list from Dr Melillo for research below.
US Insider
Dr. Robert Melillo has been exploring questions over the past 25 years that few have addressed in the areas of brain function and development. Through his work, he has developed insights and approaches that are considered groundbreaking, allowing him to propose new solutions to some of the most perplexing neurological conditions. He is widely regarded as a leading expert in developmental neurological disorders, particularly in children. Known for his innovative thinking, Dr. Melillo has focused on understanding and improving conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and others. Over the last three decades, he has established himself as a highly accomplished clinician, professor, researcher, and author, offering fresh perspectives on brain development and mental health.
Taking Sides: Asymmetries in the Evolution of Human Brain Development in Better Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
The paper endeavors to better understand the relationship between alterations in typical cortical asymmetries and functional lateralization in ASD in evolutionary terms. We have proposed that both early genetic and/or environmental influences can alter the developmental process of cortical lateralization. There invariably is a “chicken or egg” issue that arises whether atypical cortical anatomy associated with abnormal function, or alternatively whether functional atypicality generates abnormal structure.
Research on the Connection Between Primitive Reflexes and Brain Imbalances by Dr Melillo!
We think a delay in brain maturation in some networks may result in an increase in cortical maturation and development in other networks, leading to a development al asynchrony and an unevenness of functional skills and symptoms. The paper supports the close relationship between retained primitive reflexes and cognitive and motor function in general and in ASD in particular provided to indicate that the inhibition of RPRs can effect positive change in ASD.
Older Research Available for Download:
- Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience (a peer-reviewed journal): Cognitive Motor Interactions of the Basal Ganglia in Development – 2014
- Cognitive Rehabilitation in Developmental Disabilities – 2015
- Anatomic and Functional Connectivity Relationship in Autistic Children During Three Different Experimental Conditions – 2015
- QEEG Spectral and Coherence Assessment of Autistic Children in Three Different Experimental Conditions – 2015
- Heart Rate Variability for assessing Comatose Patients – 2012
- The Development of the Frontal Lobes in Infancy and Childhood: Asymmetry and the Nature of Temperament and Affect – 2012
- Intentionality and “Free Will” from a Neurodevelopment Perspective – 2012
- Clinical Motor and Cognitive Neurobehavioral Relationships in the Basal Ganglia – 2012
- Effects of Music Training and Production on Functional Brain Organization – 2012
- Effects of Motor Sequence Training on Attentional Performance in ADHD Children – 2010
- The Effect of Hemisphere Specific Remediation Strategies on the Academic Performance Outcome of Children with ADD/ADHD – 2010
- Functional Disconnectivities in Autistic Spectrum Disorder Children – 2010
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders as Functional Disconnection Syndrome – 2009
- Cortical Asymmetry and Learning Efficiency – 2006
- Functional Brain Organization in Developmental Dyslexia – 2004
- Learning Disabilities: Neuroanatomic Asymmetries
- Cortical Asymmetry and Learning Efficiency A Direction for the Rehabilitation Process
- Looking Beyond the Symptoms of Developmental Disorders
- Brain Basics: A Brain in Sync
- Inattention and Neurobehavioral Disorders of Childhood
Other Studies & Resources:
Current Writing and Research Projects and Commitments (Phd Related)
1. Symmetry – Taking Sides: Asymmetries in the Evolution of Human Development in Better Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder
Special Issue: Symmetry and Biology
Gerry Leisman, Robert Melillo, Ty Melillo, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Eli Carmeli
Deadline 15 November 2022
2. Clinical Neurophysiology – Functional Connectivities in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado-Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Ty Melillo, Eli Carmeli
Deadline: 30 December 2022
3. Developmental Sciences – Relation between Skill and Brain Coherence Networks: Symmetry of RPRs and Long Rage Connectivities in ASD
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado-Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Ty Melillo, Eli Carmeli
Deadline: 30 December 2022
4. Neuropsychologia – Gross Motor Skill and Hemisphericity
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado-Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Ty Melillo, Eli Carmeli
Deadline 15 January 2023
5. Physical Therapy – Lateralized Exercises and RPRs in ASD
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado-Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Ty Melillo, Eli Carmeli
Deadline 15 January 2023
6. Frontiers in Neurology – Retained Primitive Reflexes and Potential for Intervention in Autistic Spectrum Disorders
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, Yanin Machado-Ferrer, Mauricio Chinchilla-Acosta, Shanine Kamgang, Ty Melillo, and Eli Carmeli.
Deadline: Submitted, Accepted and Published 2022
7. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy – Front and center: Maturational dysregulation of frontal lobe functional neuroanatomic connections in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.” Frontiers in Neuroanatomy 16 (2022).
Gerry Leisman and Robert Melillo
Deadline: Submitted, Accepted and Published 2022
8. Brain Sciences – Cortical Visual Impairment in Childhood:‘Blindsight’and the Sprague Effect Revisited
Gerry Leisman, Calixto Machado, and Robert Melillo..
Deadline: Submitted, Accepted and Published 2021
9. Frontiers in Public Health – Persistent Childhood Primitive Reflex Reduction Effects on Cognitive, Sensorimotor, and Academic Performance in ADHD
Robert Melillo, Gerry Leisman, Raed Mualem, Alon Ornai, and Eli Carmeli.
Deadline: Submitted, Accepted and Published 2020
Melillo Older Publications in Journals
Leisman, G. and Melillo, R. The Basal Ganglia: Motor and Cognitive Relationships in a Clinical Neurobehavioral Context Reviews in the Neurosciences. 2013;24(1):9-25.
Machado C, Estévez M, Rodríguez R, Pérez-Nellar J, Chinchilla M, Defina P, Leisman G, Carrick FR, Melillo R, Schiavi A, Gutiérrez J, Carballo M, Machado A,Olivares A, Pérez-Cruz N. Zolpidem Arousing Effect in Persistent Vegetative State Patients: Autonomic, EEG and Behavioral Assessment. Current Pharmaceutical Design. 2013 Sep 10. [Epub ahead of print] (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24025063).
Machado, C., Estevez, M., Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Rodriguez, R., Hermandez, A. Perez-Nellar, J., Naranjo, R., and Chinchilla, M. EEG Coherence Assessment of Autistic Children in Three Different Experimental Conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. DOI 10.1007/s10803-013-1909-5.
Estevez, M., Machado, C., Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Machado, A., Hernandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M. EEGConn: A Software Tool for Offline qEEG Analysis, Including Spectral Univariate and Bivariate Processes and Linear and Non-Linear Indices of Brian Connectivity in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development. 2013; 6(4): 427.
Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Machado, C. Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Batista, K., Carballa, M., Mualem, R. Functional Disconnectivities in Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development. 2013, 6(4):486.
Machado, C., Estevez, M., Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Machado, A., Hernanandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M. Exploration of Resting Brain Connectivity Using Linear Coherence Measures in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder.International Journal of Child Health and Human Development. 2013; 6(4):510.
Machado, C. Estevez, M., Melillo, R., Leisman, G., Carrick, R., Machado, A., Hernandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M., Quantitative Resting EEG in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development. 2013; 6(4):511
Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Batista, K., Carballo, M., Iturria, Y., Sanabria, G., Machado, C.,Leisman, G., Estevez, M., Melillo, R. Anatomical and Topological Connectivity Reveal Different Attributes of Disrupted Small-World Networks in Autistic Children. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development. 2013; 6(4):551
Leisman, G., Braun-Benjamin, O., Melillo, R. Cognitive-Motor Interactions of the Basal Ganglia in Development. Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience. 2014, 8:16. doi:10.3389/fnsys.2014.00016. [Cross-referenced in Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience.
Machado, C., Pérez-Nellar, J., Rodríguez_Rojas, R., Estévez, M., DeFina, P.A., Schiavi, A., Leisman, G. Carrick, F.R., Melillo, R., and Chinchilla, M., Unusual brainstem twisting revealed by MRI tractography in a patient who survived a severe traumatic upper spinal dislocation. Functional Neurology Rehabilitation, and Ergonomics, 2013 [In Press].
Machado, C., Pérez-Nellar, J., Rodríguez, R., Estevez, M., Leisman, G., Carrick, F. R.,Melillo, R., and Chinchilla, M. Neuroimaging Study of a Patient Who Survived a Traumatic Atlanto-Occipital Dislocation. Neurology 2014 [In Press]
Machado, C. Perez, J., Rodriguez, R., Estevez, M. Leisman, G. Melillo, R. Schiavi, A.
Pastor, I., Carrick, Frederick, Chinchilla, M. “Unusual Brainstem Twisting Revealedby MRI Tractography in a Patient Who Survived a Severe Traumatic Upper Spinal Dislocation. J. Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry. [Submitted, 2014
Estévez, M., Machado C., Leisman, G. Melillo, R. Hernández-Cruz, A., Estévez-Hernández, T., Arias-Morales, A. Machado, A., Montes-Brown, J. Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability. Medical, Biological Engineering and Computing [Submitted, 2014]
Leisman, G., Braun-Benjamin, Pivovarch, D., Melillo, R. Thinking, Walking, Talking: The development of Integratory Brain Function. Frontiers of Integratory Neuroscience, 2015 [In press]
Melillo 2013 Books & Book Chapters
Estevez, M., Machado, C., Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Machado, A., Hernandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M. EEGConn: A Software Tool for Offline qEEG Analysis, Including Spectral Univariate and Bivariate Processes and Linear and Non-Linear Indices of Brian Connectivity in Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Chronic Disease and Disability in Childhood. Haupague, NY: Nova Scientific, 2013, p. 65.
Machado, C., Estevez, M., Leisman, G., Melillo, R., Machado, A., Hernanandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M. Exploration of Resting Brain Connectivity Using Linear Coherence Measures in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Chronic Disease and Disability in Childhood. Haupague, NY: Nova Scientific, 2013,p. 149.
Machado, C., Estevez., M., Melillo, R., Leisman, G., Carrick, R., Machado, A., Hernandez-Cruz, A., Arias, A., Rodriguez-Rojas, R., Carballo, M., Quantitative Resting EEG in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Chronic Disease and Disability in Childhood.Haupague, NY: Nova Scientific, 2013, p. 150.