Startle Reflex as a Learning Task: Apparatus and Test Parameters

摘要

The objective of this report is to define the startle reflex inhibition learning task and to present results of a pilot study designed to determine the experimental conditions which produce the most consistent learning curves. The startle response (muscle flinch) to each tone stimulus was recorded via an accelerator voltage output. The three primary task parameters--tone intensity, interstimulus interval (ISI), and adaptation period-were evaluated to determine which parameters were important in producing consistent learning curves. The results indicate that ISI and adaptation period have little effect on the inhibition learning curves and tone intensity proved to be the primary variable for the range of conditions used in this study. Keywords: Behavioral task, Startle reflex inhibition, Muscle flinch, Interstimulus interval (ISI).