Abstract
The acoustic startle reflex was modified by presenting gaps (0–30 ms) in a continuous noise (70 dB) before the startle eliciting stimulus. The effects of midazolam (0.4–1.8 mg/kg, IP), DMCM (0.1–0.4 mg/kg, IP), buspirone (5–20 mg/kg, PO), 8-OH-DPAT (0.5–8 mg/kg, IP), and clonidine (0.009–0.08 mg/kg, IP) on startle amplitudes (reflecting sensorimotor reactivity) on the one hand, and on gap inhibition of the startle reflex (a measure of temporal acuity) on the other hand, were investigated. The results showed that midazolam and clonidine attenuated sensorimotor reactivity dose-dependently. DMCM had no systematic effect on sensorimotor reactivity. Buspirone and 8-OH-DPAT increased sensorimotor reactivity dose dependently. Furthermore, midazolam and clonidine did not affect the neuronal systems underlying inhibition of the startle reflex. In contrast, DMCM and buspirone increased inhibition dose-dependently, and 8-OH-DPAT first increased and than decreased inhibition of the startle reflex. The possibility that drug-induced behavior affected the startle reflex was discussed.
Published Version
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