The hyperekplexias and their relationship to the normal startle reflex.

Journal article

The startle response to unexpected auditory and somaesthetic stimulation was studied in 8 patients with hereditary or symptomatic hyperekplexia. It was abnormal in its resistance to habituation and in its exaggerated motor response. Both noise and taps to the face and head elicited a normal early blink response, separate from the subsequent true startle reflex. The earliest reflex EMG activity recorded after the blink was in sternocleidomastoid. EMG activity in masseter, and trunk and limb mu...

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Authors: Brown, P; Rothwell, J; Thompson, P; Britton, T; Day, B

• Publication status: Published
• Journal: Brain : a journal of neurology
• Volume: 114 ( Pt 4)
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 1903-1928
• Publication date: 1991-08-01
• DOI: 10.1093/brain/114.4.1903
• EISSN: 1460-2156
• ISSN: 0006-8950
• Language: English
• Keywords: Startle Reaction; Acoustic Stimulation; Humans; Physical Stimulation; Adult; Middle Aged; Aged; Cerebral Cortex; Neural Conduction; Female; Nervous System Diseases; Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory; Male; Electromyography; Electric Stimulation; Motor Activity; Blinking; Syndrome