Response triggering by an acoustic stimulus increases with stimulus intensity and is best predicted by startle reflex activation.

ABSTRACT: In a simple reaction time task, the presentation of a startling acoustic stimulus has been shown to trigger the prepared response at short latency, known as the StartReact effect. However, it is unclear under what conditions it can be assumed that the loud stimulus results in response triggering. The purpose of the present study was to examine how auditory stimulus intensity and preparation level affect the probability of involuntary response triggering and the incidence of activation in the startle reflex indicator of sternocleidomastoid (SCM). In two reaction time experiments, participants were presented with an irrelevant auditory stimulus of varying intensities at various time points prior to the visual go-signal. Responses were independently categorized as responding to either the aud

SUBMITTER: Maslovat D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8655082 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature