title: Modulation of the acoustic startle response by the level of arousal: comparison of clonidine and modafinil in healthy volunteers.
abstract: A sudden loud sound evokes an electromyographic (EMG) response from the orbicularis oculi muscle in humans together with an auditory evoked potential (AEP) and an increase in skin conductance (SC). Startle responses are inhibited by weak prepulses (prepulse inhibition, (PPI)) and may also be modified by the level of alertness. We compared the sedative drug clonidine and the alerting drug modafinil on sound-evoked EMG, AEP, and SC responses, on the PPI of these responses and on level of arousal and autonomic functions. Sixteen healthy male volunteers participated in four weekly sessions (clonidine 0.2 mg, modafinil 400 mg, their combination, placebo) in a double-blind, cross-over, balanced design. Responses were evoked by sound pulses of 115 and 85 dB (PPI) for 40 ms and recorded conventionally. Level of alertness, autonomic functions (pupil diameter, blood pressure, heart rate, salivation, temperature) and the plasma levels of the hormones prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone and growth hormone were also measured. Data were analyzed with analysis of variance with multiple comparisons. Both prepulses and clonidine attenuated all three startle responses and modafinil antagonized clonidine's effects on the EMG and AEP responses. None of the drugs affected PPI. Clonidine showed sedative and sympatholytic effects, and modafinil showed alerting and sympathomimetic effects. In conclusion, startle responses were susceptible not only to PPI but also to the level of arousal.
authors.affiliation: Division of Psychiatry, Psychopharmacology Section, Medical School, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Ebony R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: Ruihua H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Langley
authors.forename: Elemer
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szabadi
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bradshaw
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods; D004703:Endocrine System / Q000187:drug effects; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077408:Modafinil; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D003000:Clonidine; D000077408:Modafinil