The effect of repeated propulse—blink reflex trials on blink reflex modulation at short lead intervals

Abstract

The amplitude of a blink reflex is inhibited if the reflex eliciting stimulus is preceded by a short prestimulus (e.g. < 250 ms). If the prestimulus duration is longer than 1 s, blink reflex amplitude is facilitated. The present study investigated the effect of repeated presentations of prestimulus—blink eliciting stimulus pairings on blink reflex modulation. Subjects in Experiment 1 ( N = 59) were presented with a sequence of 12 blocks of 7 trials. Within each block, one trial was a blink stimulus alone, whereas the blink stimulus was preceded by a prestimulus on the other trials. Prestimulus intervals were 30, 60, 120, 240, 500 and 2000 ms. Prestimuli were presented continuously throughout the prepulse interval. The amount of reflex magnitude inhibition at the 60, 120, 240 and 500 ms lead intervals and reflex latency shortening at 30 and 60 ms decreased over blocks. The amount of reflex facilitation at a lead interval of 2000 ms was not reduced. In Experiment 2 ( N = 22), two groups of subjects were presented with a sequence of blink stimulus alone presentations and prestimulus—blink stimulus pairings. The prestimulus lasted for 120 ms in one group and for 200 ms in the second. Blink reflex magnitude inhibition declined in both groups over blocks of trials. However, the groups also differed in responding on the blink stimulus alone control trials. Experiment 3 ( N = 24) employed the same design as did Experiment 2. No difference in control responding was found. Similar to Experiment 2, blink inhibition decreased over repeated trials in both groups. The present results indicate that prepulse inhibition reflects a process which is affected by repeated presentation of prestimulus—reflex stimulus pairings. However, the conclusion that the reduction of prestimulus effects reflects habituation seems to be premature.