Abstract
The present review argues that the startle reflex is particularly well suited as a model system to analyze how drugs alter stimulus reactivity and reflex excitability. It then reviews all the literature to date on how drugs or lesions that are thought to alter neurochemical transmitter systems affect acoustic and/or tactile startle. Hypotheses are presented to account for how serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and opiates modulate startle. Effects on startle plasticity such as habituation, sensitization, and potentiation resulting from prior associative learning are also included.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
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Review
MeSH terms
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Acetylcholine / physiology
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Acoustic Stimulation
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Animals
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Anti-Anxiety Agents / pharmacology
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Brain Mapping
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Cats
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Dopamine / physiology
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Fenclonine / pharmacology
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Habituation, Psychophysiologic / physiology
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Hallucinogens / pharmacology
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Haplorhini
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Humans
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Mice
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Narcotics / pharmacology
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Norepinephrine / physiology
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Pentobarbital / pharmacology
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Raphe Nuclei / physiology
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Rats
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Receptors, Serotonin / physiology
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Reflex, Startle / drug effects*
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Reflex, Startle / physiology
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Serotonin / pharmacology
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Serotonin / physiology
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Touch
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Tryptophan / deficiency
Substances
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Anti-Anxiety Agents
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Hallucinogens
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Narcotics
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Receptors, Serotonin
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Serotonin
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Tryptophan
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Pentobarbital
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Acetylcholine
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Fenclonine
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Dopamine
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Norepinephrine