Top

Published in:

01-12-2017 | Original Article

Evaluation of startle response and prepulse inhibition based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground: a preliminary study

Authors: Jacek Polechoński, Agnieszka Nawrocka, Grzegorz Juras, Janusz Błaszczyk

Published in: Neurological Sciences | Issue 12/2017

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility of estimating a startle response and sensorimotor gating based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground during a dynamometric examination. The study encompassed 13 healthy and physically fit men (age: 23.3 ± 2.0 years; height: 178.0 ± 6.1 cm; and weight: 76.1 ± 9.0 kg). The inhibitory mechanisms of startle reflex were used as the measure of sensorimotor gating. It was triggered by a strong acoustic stimulus (106 dB SPL, 40 ms), which was preceded by a similar, weaker signal (80 dB SPL, 20 ms). Startle reflex was evaluated using a piezoelectric force platform. The results of the conducted study show that the range of vertical pressure force of the feet caused by the reaction to a strong acoustic stimulus is significantly smaller when this stimulus is preceded by a signal of lower intensity (prepulse). Such assessment is only possible with the participants’ eyes open. The generalized startle response of a person may be estimated using a force platform, based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground, which are caused by unexpected acoustic stimuli. There is a strong indication that using a force platform to evaluate sensorimotor gating could be used as an alternative to electromyographic examinations.

Davis M, File SE (1984) Intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of habituation and sensitization: implications for the design and analysis of experiments. Habituation Sensitization Behav:287–324

Koch M (1999) The neurobiology of startle. Prog Neurobiol 59:107–128CrossRefPubMed

Błaszczyk JW (2003) Startle response to short acoustic stimuli in rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp 63:25–30

Wynn JK, Sergi MJ, Dawson ME et al (2005) Sensorimotor gating, orienting and social perception in schizophrenia. Schizophr Res 73:319–325CrossRefPubMed

Ewing SG, Grace AA (2013) Evidence for impaired sound intensity processing during prepulse inhibition of the startle response in a rodent developmental disruption model of schizophrenia. J Psychiatr Res 47:1630–1635CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

Quednow BB, Frommann I, Berning J et al (2008) Impaired sensorimotor gating of the acoustic startle response in the prodrome of schizophrenia. Biol Psychiatry 64:766–773CrossRefPubMed

Takahashi H, Iwase M, Ishii R et al (2008) Impaired prepulse inhibition and habituation of acoustic startle response in Japanese patients with schizophrenia. Neurosci Res 62:187–194CrossRefPubMed

Wu R, Song L, Lü J et al (2015) Prepulse inhibition of startle reflex in schizophrenics and healthy adults. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 95:823–826PubMed

Ueki A, Goto K, Sato N et al (2006) Prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle response in mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia of Alzheimer type. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 60:55–62CrossRefPubMed

10.

Zoetmulder M, Biernat HB, Nikolic M et al (2014) Sensorimotor gating deficits in multiple system atrophy: comparison with Parkinson’s disease and idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 20:297–302CrossRefPubMed

11.

Zoetmulder M, Biernat HB, Nikolic M et al (2014) Prepulse inhibition is associated with attention, processing speed, and 123I-FP-CIT SPECT in Parkinson’s disease. J Park Dis 4:77–87

12.

Kiziltan ME, Gunduz A, Apaydın H et al (2015) Auditory startle reflex and startle reflex to somatosensory inputs in generalized dystonia. Clin Neurophysiol 126:1740–1745CrossRefPubMed

13.

Madsen GF, Bilenberg N, Jepsen JR et al (2015) Normal P50 gating in children with autism, yet attenuated P50 amplitude in the asperger subcategory. Autism Res 8:371–378CrossRefPubMed

14.

Aluja A, Blanch A, Blanco E, Balada F (2015) Affective modulation of the startle reflex and the reinforcement sensitivity theory of personality: the role of sensitivity to reward. Physiol Behav 138:332–339CrossRefPubMed

15.

Moriwaki M, Kishi T, Takahashi H et al (2009) Prepulse inhibition of the startle response with chronic schizophrenia: a replication study. Neurosci Res 65:259–262CrossRefPubMed

16.

Schumacher S, Schnyder U, Furrer M et al (2013) Startle reactivity in the long-term after severe accidental injury: preliminary data. Psychiatry Res 210:570–574CrossRefPubMed

17.

Takahashi H, Iwase M, Yasuda Y et al (2012) Relationship of prepulse inhibition to temperament and character in healthy Japanese subjects. Neurosci Res 72:187–193CrossRefPubMed

18.

Kandemir M, Gündüz A, Uzun N et al (2015) Auditory startle response is normal in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Neurol Sci 36:1247–1249CrossRefPubMed

19.

Kumru H, Opisso E, Valls-Solé J, Kofler M (2009) The effect of a prepulse stimulus on the EMG rebound following the cutaneous silent period. J Physiol 587:587–595CrossRefPubMed

20.

Brown P, Day BL, Rothwell JC et al (1991) The effect of posture on the normal and pathological auditory startle reflex. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 54:892–897CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

21.

Błaszczyk JW, Tajchert K (1997) Effect of acoustic stimulus characteristics on the startle response in hooded rats. Acta Neurobiol Exp (Warsz) 57:315–322

22.

Daldrup T, Remmes J, Lesting J et al (2015) Expression of freezing and fear-potentiated startle during sustained fear in mice. Genes Brain Behav 14:281–291CrossRefPubMed

23.

Hillman CH, Hsiao-Wecksler ET, Rosengren KS (2005) Postural and eye-blink indices of the defensive startle reflex. Int J Psychophysiol 55:45–49CrossRefPubMed

24.

Polechoński J, Juras G, Słomka K et al (2016) Assessment of startle response and its prepulse inhibition using posturography: pilot study. Biomed Res Int 2016:1–5CrossRef

25.

Grillon C, Ameli R, Charney DS et al (1992) Startle gating deficits occur across prepulse intensities in schizophrenic patients. Biol Psychiatry 32:939–943CrossRefPubMed

26.

Nashner L, Berthoz A (1978) Visual contribution to rapid motor responses during postural control. Brain Res 150:403–407CrossRefPubMed

27.

Palus WM, Straube A, Brant T (1984) Visual stabilization of posture. Physiological stimulus characteristics and clinical aspect. Brain 107:63

28.

Collins JJ, De Luca CJ (1995) The effects of visual input on open-loop and closed-loop postural control mechanisms. Exp Brain Res 103:151–163CrossRefPubMed

29.

Sienkiewicz H (2001) The comparison of stabilogram courses for human keeping balance after the elimination of some sense functions. Hum Mov 2:39–50

30.

Rankin CH, Abrams T, Barry RJ et al (2009) Habituation revisited: an updated and revised description of the behavioral characteristics of habituation. Neurobiol Learn Mem 92:135–138CrossRefPubMed

31.

Pęciłło M (2016) The concept of resilience in OSH management: a review of approaches. Int J Occup Saf Ergon 22:291–300CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

32.

Henderson D, Lary A, Burrell LM, Matthews MD (2011) Assessing the comprehensive soldier fitness program: measuring startle response and prepulse inhibition. DTIC Document. http://www.dtic.mil/get-tr-doc/pdf?AD=ADA540676. Accessed 14 May 2017

33.

Polechoński J, Błaszczyk J (2006) The effect of acoustic noise on postural sway in male and female subjects. J Hum Kinet 15:37

Title: Evaluation of startle response and prepulse inhibition based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground: a preliminary study
Authors: Jacek Polechoński
Agnieszka Nawrocka
Grzegorz Juras
Janusz Błaszczyk
Publication date: 01-12-2017
Publisher: Springer Milan
Published in: Neurological Sciences / Issue 12/2017
Print ISSN: 1590-1874
Electronic ISSN: 1590-3478
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-017-3129-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Evaluation of startle response and prepulse inhibition based on changes in the range of vertical pressure force of the feet on the ground: a preliminary study

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 12/2017

Kubrick’s The Shining and the erased myopathic face

Acute toxic leukoencephalopathy associated with a non-prescription weight loss supplement: a report of two cases

Changes in routine laboratory tests and survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Hub-and-spoke stroke network in the Veneto region: a retrospective study investigating the effectiveness of the stroke pathway and trends over time

Caspr2 antibodies in a patient with prostate cancer: a cognitive deterioration with recurrent and paroxysmal gait ataxia and aphasia

Multiple sclerosis and rehabilitation: an overview of the different rehabilitation settings