Startle Modification Implications for Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Clinical Science

The startle response (as a result of a sudden, loud noise, for instance) is a reflex that is wired into the brain at a very basic level. Although everybody will exhibit such a reflex, the strength and quickness of the startle response is modified by a subject's underlying psychoneurological state. Therefore, the nature of this modification is now seen as an accurate, objective measure of very deep neurological processes. This book is the first comprehensive volume devoted to startle modification. It offers a unique overview of the methods, measurement, physiology, and psychology of the phenomenon, particularly modification of the human startle eyeblink. Many of the world's leading investigators in the field have made contributions to this volume. Coverage includes elicitation and recording of startle blink; issues in measurement and quantification; the neurophysiological basis of the basic startle response and its modification by attentional and affective processes; psychological processes underlying short and long lead interval modification (including prepulse inhibition); applications of startle modification to the study of psychopathology, including schizophrenia, affective disorders, and psychopathy and developmental processes; and relationships with ERPs and behavioral measures of information processing.

The startle response (response to a loud noise, for instance) is a reflex that is wired into the brain at a very basic level. Although everybody has such a reflex, the strength and quickness of the startle response is modified by a subject's underlying psychoneurological state. The nature of this modification, therefore, is now seen as an accurate, objective measure of very deep neurological processes. This book is a comprehensive volume devoted to startle modification and offers a unique overview of the methods, measurement, physiology and psychology of the phenomenon, particularly modification of the human startle eyeblink. Chapters are written by many of the world's leading investigators in the field and include coverage of elicitation and recording of startle blink, issues in measurement and quantification, the neurophysiological basis of the basic startle response and its modification by attentional and affective processes, psychological processes underlying short and long lead interval modification (including prepulse inhibition), applications of startle modification to the study of psychopathology, including schizophrenia, affective disorders, and psychopathy, developmental processes and relationships with ERPs and behavioural measures of information processing.

List of contributors; Preface; Prologue Howard S. Hoffman; Part I. Basic Paradigms, Methods and Phenomena: 1. Startle modification: introduction and overview Michael E. Dawson, Anne M. Schell and Andreas H. Boehmëlt; 2. Startle elicitation: stimulus parameters, recording techniques, and quantification W. Keith Berg and Marie T. Balaban; 3. Short lead interval modification Terry D. Blumenthal; 4. Startle modification at long lead intervals Lois E. Putnam and Eric J. Vanman; Part II. Physiological Mediation of Startle Modification: 5. Neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of startle modification and its affective modification Michael Davis, David L. Walker and Younglim Lee; 6. Neurophysiology and neuropharmacology of short lead interval startle modification Neal Swerdlow and Mark A. Geyer; Part III. Psychological Mediation of Startle Modification: 7. Blink reflex studies of attention and consciousness Steven Hackley; 8. Affect and the startle reflex: motivation in perception Margaret M. Bradley, Bruce N. Cuthbert and Peter J. Lang; Part IV. Individual Differences and Startle Modification: 9. Affective individual differences, psychopathology, and startle reflex modification Edwin W. Cook; 10. Psychopathic traits and intoxicated states: affective concomitants and conceptual links Christopher J. Patrick and Alan R. Lang; 11. Schizophrenia spectrum disorders Kristin S. Cadenhead and David L. Braff; 12. Startle modification in children and developmental effects Edward M. Ornitz; Part V. Relationships with Other Paradigms and Measures: 13. Behavioral correlates of startle inhibition Diane L. Filion, Kimberle A. Kelly and Erin A. Hazlett; 14. Event related potential (ERP) components and startle Judith M. Ford and Walton T. Roth; 15. Startle modification during orienting and Pavlovian conditioning Ottmar Lipp and David Siddle; References; Index.

The human startle reflex and its modification by attentional and affective processes has received increased attention in the last decade. This book is a comprehensive volume devoted to startle modification. It offers a unique overview of the methods, measurement, physiology and psychology of the phenomenon, particularly modification of the human startle eyeblink.