title: The acoustic startle response is normal in patients with multiple system atrophy.
abstract: We investigated the acoustic startle response in eight patients with MSA and compared the results with those from a group of age matched healthy subjects. Onset latency and amplitude of the responses obtained in the orbicularis oculi, masseter and sternocleidomastoid muscles were not different in patients and control subjects. We conclude that, in spite of the pathological derangement described in brainstem reticular nuclei in MSA, the neuronal circuits mediating the auditory startle reflex are functionally preserved.
authors.affiliation: Departament de Medicina Hospital Clínic Universitat de Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Valldeoriola
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Valls-Solé
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tolosa
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Nobbe
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martí
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000368:Aged; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019578:Multiple System Atrophy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*