The Intern's Palmomental Reflex

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     To the Editor: The contemporary palmomental reflex can no longer be viewed as primitive. Usually elicited by a probing question from a staff physician, it is a reflexive action observed in medical students and house officers. The reflex involves a quick movement to expose a personal digital assistant (Palm Pilot) or similar device, followed by repetitive stabs with the stylus on the device screen. The "palmo" component of the reflex seems to be necessary to start the "mental" component required to answer the question. The reflex has replaced the "um" and "ah" of indecision or thought and has almost eliminated the "I don't know" response.

    G.L. Crelinsten, M.D.

    McGill University

    Montreal, QC H3H 1V4, Canada

    gcrelinsten@qc.aibn.com

    http://www.100md.com/html/DirDu/2006/11/29/30/77/48.htm