The startle reflex is a brainstem reflectory reaction (reflex) that serves to protect vulnerable parts, such as the back of the neck (whole-body startle) and the eyes (eyeblink) and facilitates escape from sudden stimuli. It is found across many different species, throughout all stages of life.

Sometimes this state of readiness can show up as the startle response. This is a biologically programmed sequence of movements to keep us safe in the face of sudden danger. It can involve involuntarily covering vulnerable parts of the body (like the back of the neck or throat).

A startle response is defined as a rapid muscle contraction triggered by sudden acoustic, visual, or tactile stimuli, commonly observed in mammals. It serves to reduce reaction time for flight or protect against potential threats, involving a short neuronal pathway with specific synapses.

To better understand the startle response in anxiety, we examined ANS and attentional factors previously associated with differential startle responses. This can be conceptualized in terms of three questions.

2023年12月20日 · The startle response is a natural physiological reaction to a sudden or threatening stimulus. It is characterized by a rapid, involuntary reflex that can include a combination of physical reactions such as jumping, jolting, or a quickened heart rate.

In summary, baseline startle reflects basic reactivity to unexpected/frightening events and emotion modulated startle reflects more nuanced emotional processing; both these components are peripheral signs of central neural pathways that orchestrate …

The startle response is a fast, protective, fundamental sensorimotor response in animals that is often used to avoid predators. The circuits are simple and fast, with large neurons, which has allowed studies of neurons in startle networks to provide fundamental insights into the cellular and synaptic biology of the nervous system.