Does startle explain the exaggerated first response to a transient perturbation?
Here we review recent experimental evidence suggesting that exaggerated muscle response to an unfamiliar transient perturbation consists of combined postural and startle responses. Summation of these two independent responses explains the experimental data and suggests that habituation consists of the extinction of the startle response leaving only the postural response.
Siegmund
Gunter P
GP
MEA Forensic Engineers & Scientists, Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. gunter.siegmund@meaforensic.com
Blouin
Jean-Sébastien
JS
Inglis
J Timothy
JT
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D004576:Electromyography; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D009334:Neck Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*