Autonomic, electroencephalographic, and myogenic activity accompanying startle and its habituation during mid‐childhood

Abstract

This study investigated (a) possible associations of the large individual variation in startle, with accompanying autonomic, central nervous system, and myogenic activities in a habituation paradigm; and (b) the patterns of habituation of these variables. Startle blinks to 40 noise bursts, heart rate, alpha activity, and orbicularis oculi electromyographic (EMG) activity preceding and following each startle response were measured in 40 normal 7-11-year-old boys. Startle amplitude and its habituation were independent of association with either initial values or successive changes in the autonomic, alpha, and EMG activities; whereas startle habituated, pre- and poststartle myogenic, alpha, and cardiac activities failed to habituate. Tonic cardiac activity was facilitated, suggesting sensitization of state, as proposed in the dual-process theory of habituation.