These behaviors can include aimless wandering, hypersensitivity to loud sounds and brightness, weakness or coordination issues, and the incapability to nurse.
Many things could cause this detachment, although twin births, uterine or urinary infections, low blood pressure and other diseases increase the risk.
Another possible cause, as theorised and researched by the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, could be neurosteroids that are essential and active while the foal is in utero.
This theory is supported by the discovery of sedative neurosteroids in the bloodstream of foals, shortly after birth, that develop NMS.
This treatment uses series of ropes and knots wrapped around the foal's chest, then pressure is applied for a set amount of time.
One of the researchers noted changes in neurosteroids during the rope squeeze and he wondered if that might be similar to birth canal pressures to signal transition to life outside the womb.
This is thought to help the brain neurosteroids signal the "off switch" for keeping the foal asleep in the womb for the 11 months of gestation.
With early intervention and appropriate treatment, studies show that up to 80 percent of foals diagnosed with NMS after birth can make a full recovery and mature into a fully functioning adult.
The tactile response from the foals seems to mimic some anecdotal stories of touch helping newborn babies with illnesses.
This practice is becoming more and more widespread in the United States, often referred to as kangaroo care, a process where a newborn baby is immediately given to the mother or father for skin-to-skin contact.
Past research has shown that there are similar neurosteroids concentrations in humans as seen in the foals that present with neonatal maladjustment syndrome.