Does neuroticism in adolescents moderate contextual and explicit threat cue modulation of the startle reflex?
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the relationship between neuroticism (N), a probable risk factor for emotional disorders, and modulation of startle reflexes (SRs).


METHODS
One hundred thirty-two adolescents with varying levels of N but without anxiety or depressive disorders were evaluated in contextual cue and explicit threat cue paradigms.


RESULTS
Within the explicit threat cue paradigm, N potentiated SRs more in conditions that were intermediately associated with threat of an aversive biceps contraction than conditions that were the furthest from and conditions that were the closest to the same threat. Also, N potentiated SRs across the entire experiment, regardless of experimental conditions, in male and not in female subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that adolescents with high levels of N show greater sensitivity to contexts intermediately associated with threat. Results are discussed in comparison with other studies of groups at risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.
Craske
Michelle G
MG
Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, California, USA. craske@psych.ucla.edu
Waters
Allison M
AM
Nazarian
Maria
M
Mineka
Susan
S
Zinbarg
Richard E
RE
Griffith
James W
JW
Naliboff
Bruce
B
Ornitz
Edward M
EM
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001767:Blinking / Q000502:physiology; D003463:Cues; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
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