Abstract
ABSTRACTThe present study assessed the interaction of several stimulus parameters in the elicitation of the startle response in humans. Broadband noise stimuli with intensities of 80 and 85 dB(A) and durations of 30 and 50 ms were presented to four groups of 15 college undergraduates. Within subjects, stimulus rise and fall times of 2.5, 10, and 25 ms were presented in a 3 × 3 factorial design. Amplitude, probability, and latency of integrated EMG activity from orbicularis oculi (eyeblink) were assessed. As stimulus rise time increased, response amplitude and probability decreased, and response latency increased, for both durations and both intensities tested. A main effect of stimulus duration on response probability was found, with higher probability for 50‐ms than for 30‐ms stimuli. In conjunction with previous research which found no effect of stimulus rise time on startle responding with more intense stimuli, these results suggest that startle response elicitation is determined by an interaction of stimulus parameters, with manipulation of some parameters being more effective at certain levels of other parameters.
Published Version
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