title: Acoustic Startle Reflex and Prepulse Inhibition.
abstract: The completion of genome sequencing in humans and mice has opened new opportunities to study the relationship between gene expression and behavior and for development of novel therapeutic approaches for brain diseases. Recently, several international programs for large-scale production and phenotyping of genetically modified mice have been launched (e.g., EUCOMM, EUMODIC, IMPC), and comprehensive high-throughput behavioral phenotyping strategies have been developed (EUMORPHIA). In this context, startle reflex represents an important research tool for studying the impact of genetic manipulations not only on sensory processes but also on complex brain functions such as cognition, emotions, and movement control. In this unit, step-by-step protocols for measurement of acoustic startle reactivity and prepulse inhibition of startle in mice are described, and supporting experimental data presented. Curr. Protoc. Mouse Biol. 2:25-35 © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), CNRS, UMR7104, Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: Abdel Mottalib
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ouagazzal
authors.affiliation: Institut Clinique de la Souris (ICS), Illkirch, France.
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meziane
keywords: anxiety; auditory function; neuropsychiatric diseases; prepulse inhibition; startle reactivity