Startle reveals an absence of advance motor programming in a Go/No-go task.
Presenting a startling stimulus in a simple reaction time (RT) task, can involuntarily trigger the pre-programmed response. However, this effect is not seen when the response is programmed following the imperative stimulus (IS) providing evidence that a startle can only trigger pre-programmed responses. In a "Go/No-go" (GNG) RT task the response may be programmed in advance of the IS because there exists only a single predetermined response. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine if startle could elicit a response in a GNG task. Participants completed a wrist extension task in response to a visual stimulus. A startling acoustic stimulus (124dB) was presented in both Go and No-go trials with Go probability manipulated between groups. The inclusion of a startle did not significantly speed RT and led to more response errors. This result is similar to that observed in a startled choice RT task, indicating that in a GNG task participants waited until the IS complete motor programming.
Carlsen
Anthony N
AN
School of Human Kinetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. carlsen@interchange.ubc.ca
Chua
Romeo
R
Dakin
Chris J
CJ
Sanderson
David J
DJ
Inglis
J Timothy
JT
Franks
Ian M
IM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology*; D014953:Wrist / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology