Quantification of the auditory startle reflex in children

Mirte J. Bakker, Frits Boer, Johan N. van der Meer, Johannes H.T.M. Koelman, Thijs Boerée, Lo Bour, Marina A.J. Tijssen*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To find an adequate tool to assess the auditory startle reflex (ASR) in children.

Methods: We investigated the effect of stimulus repetition, gender and age on several quantifications of the ASR. ASR's were elicited by eight consecutive auditory stimuli in 27 healthy children. Electromyographic activity of orbicularis oculi, masseter, sternocleidomastoid, deltoid, abductor pollicis brevis, quadriceps muscles and the sympathetic skin response were recorded. ASR parameters (response probability in % and magnitude in area-under-the-curve) were: (1) combined response of all six muscles (2) blink response.

Results: Response probabilities were 78% in orbicularis oculi (median latency 41 ms), 17% in sternocleidomastoid (median latency 66 ms), 10% in masseter (median latency 66 ms) and lower in other muscles. The ASR combined response probability and the sympathetic skin response significantly decreased with the repetitive stimuli, but the blink response probability did not. The magnitude (area-under-the-curve) of both the blink response and the combined response did not decrease with the repetitive stimuli. There were no gender or age effects.

Conclusion: As in adults, the blink response and the combined response of multiple muscles show different habituation patterns in children. Significance: Investigation of multiple muscles seems appropriate to quantify the ASR in children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)424-430
Number of pages7
JournalClinical neurophysiology
Volume120
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Auditory startle response
  • Blink response
  • Children
  • Human
  • Normative values
  • Quantification

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