About this Research Topic
The startle reflex is a rapid and involuntary reaction to sudden and intense stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights, providing valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying both normal and aberrant behavior.
It serves as a reliable, non-invasive, and translational measure of brain function and dysfunction, assessed through various physiological indicators like eye blink, muscle contraction, heart rate, or brain activity. The startle reflex is modulated by psychological factors, including emotional state, attention, expectation, and learning, and can be influenced by preceding stimuli that either dampen (prepulse inhibition) or amplify (prepulse facilitation) the response.
Recent studies have highlighted its utility in informing neurodevelopmental processes, psychiatric disorders, and disease states in both humans and animals. Despite these advancements, there remain significant gaps in understanding the sensorimotor and inhibitory mechanisms of the brain, as well as the cognitive and emotional processes affecting the startle reflex. Furthermore, its potential as a diagnostic tool for neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) is still underexplored, necessitating further investigation into genetic, environmental, and pharmacological influences.
This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the startle reflex by providing a comprehensive overview of its neurobiology, psychophysiology, and clinical applications. The primary objectives are to uncover its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and to pave the way for future advancements and challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the research will review the basic neurobiology and psychophysiology of the startle reflex and its modulations, discuss methodological issues and challenges in measurement and analysis, and propose new hypotheses, paradigms, and techniques for advancing startle reflex research.
To gather further insights into the startle reflex in the context of neurodevelopment, psychiatric, and disease states, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Neural and molecular mechanisms of the startle reflex and its modulations, and their interactions with other brain systems and functions.
- Developmental changes and trajectories of the startle reflex and its modulations across the lifespan, and their associations with cognitive, emotional, and social development.
- Effects of genetic and environmental factors on the startle reflex and its modulations, and their interactions with epigenetic and neuroplastic processes.
- Alterations of the startle reflex and its modulations in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ASD, and PD, and their correlations with clinical symptoms, biomarkers, and outcomes.
- Influences of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on the startle reflex and its modulations, and their implications for prevention, treatment, and recovery of neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Novel methods and technologies for measuring and analyzing the startle reflex and its modulations, and their validity, reliability, and feasibility.
- Ethical and social issues and challenges in conducting and disseminating startle reflex research, and their implications for policy, practice, and education.
It serves as a reliable, non-invasive, and translational measure of brain function and dysfunction, assessed through various physiological indicators like eye blink, muscle contraction, heart rate, or brain activity. The startle reflex is modulated by psychological factors, including emotional state, attention, expectation, and learning, and can be influenced by preceding stimuli that either dampen (prepulse inhibition) or amplify (prepulse facilitation) the response.
Recent studies have highlighted its utility in informing neurodevelopmental processes, psychiatric disorders, and disease states in both humans and animals. Despite these advancements, there remain significant gaps in understanding the sensorimotor and inhibitory mechanisms of the brain, as well as the cognitive and emotional processes affecting the startle reflex. Furthermore, its potential as a diagnostic tool for neuropsychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Parkinson's disease (PD) is still underexplored, necessitating further investigation into genetic, environmental, and pharmacological influences.
This Research Topic aims to deepen our understanding of the startle reflex by providing a comprehensive overview of its neurobiology, psychophysiology, and clinical applications. The primary objectives are to uncover its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and to pave the way for future advancements and challenges in diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the research will review the basic neurobiology and psychophysiology of the startle reflex and its modulations, discuss methodological issues and challenges in measurement and analysis, and propose new hypotheses, paradigms, and techniques for advancing startle reflex research.
To gather further insights into the startle reflex in the context of neurodevelopment, psychiatric, and disease states, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Neural and molecular mechanisms of the startle reflex and its modulations, and their interactions with other brain systems and functions.
- Developmental changes and trajectories of the startle reflex and its modulations across the lifespan, and their associations with cognitive, emotional, and social development.
- Effects of genetic and environmental factors on the startle reflex and its modulations, and their interactions with epigenetic and neuroplastic processes.
- Alterations of the startle reflex and its modulations in various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, PTSD, ASD, and PD, and their correlations with clinical symptoms, biomarkers, and outcomes.
- Influences of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions on the startle reflex and its modulations, and their implications for prevention, treatment, and recovery of neuropsychiatric disorders.
- Novel methods and technologies for measuring and analyzing the startle reflex and its modulations, and their validity, reliability, and feasibility.
- Ethical and social issues and challenges in conducting and disseminating startle reflex research, and their implications for policy, practice, and education.
Keywords: startle reflex, neurodevelopment, neuropsychiatric, modulation, pharmacological intervention, biomarkers
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