The Startle Reflex as a Learning Task: Apparatus and Test Parameters

Abstract

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).

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA167958

Entities

People

  • Darrell G. Evans
  • Linda B. Anderson
  • Sandra Z. Brothers
  • Stuart L. Hutchinson
  • Thomas G. Wheeler

Organizations

  • United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerospace Medicine
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Chemical Warfare
  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Classification
  • Control Systems
  • Frequency
  • Generators
  • Governments
  • Inhibition
  • Intervals
  • Laboratory Animals
  • Measurement
  • Radiation
  • Security
  • Standards

Fields of Study

  • Biology

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience