Chapter 9 The effects of a prepulse on the StartReact phenomenon

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a study to investigate whether the inhibitory effects of the prepulse are different in the condition of motor preparation with respect to that of unexpectancy and whether the inhibition of the startle reaction by a prepulse is associated with the inhibition of the StartReact phenomenon. The chapter demonstrates that the procedure could help in ascertaining whether reflex and volitional components are actually combined in the StartReact phenomenon. Eight healthy volunteers, six men and two women, aged between 25 and 52 years were investigated and the startle reaction was recorded with surface electrodes over the right orbicularis oculi muscle and, in t…