Startle reflex in the assessment of neurodevelopment, psychiatric and disease states

The startle reflex is a rapid and involuntary reaction to sudden and intense stimuli, like a loud noise or a bright light, offering insights into the neural mechanisms underlying both normal and aberrant behavior.

It is a reliable, non-invasive, and translational measure of brain function and dysfunction and it is measured through various physiological indicators such as eye blink, muscle contraction, heart rate, or brain activity, serves as a window into the intricate neural mechanisms governing our responses to the world around us.

The startle reflex can also be modulated by psychological factors, such as emotional state, attention, expectation, and learning of the individual. It can be influenced by the presence of preceding stimuli that can either dampen (prepulse inhibition) or amplify (prepulse facilitation) the startle response.

The properties of the startle reflex and its modulations are useful tools for informing on neurodevelopment processes, psychiatric disorders, and disease states of humans and animals. Quantifying the startle reflex measures can reveal the sensorimotor and inhibitory mechanisms of the brain, as well as the cognitive and emotional processes affecting them. It also offers a diagnostic lens through which we can observe and monitor various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic and environmental factors, as well as pharmacological treatments, can influence the startle reflex, offering clues for both diagnosis and treatment.

With this Research Topic, we aim to deepen our knowledge and provide a comprehensive overview of startle reflex research, exploring its neurobiology, psychophysiology, and clinical applications.
Objectives are:
To uncover its role in neuropsychiatric disorders and to pave the way for future advancements and challenges in diagnosis and treatment.
To review the basic neurobiology and psychophysiology of the startle reflex and its modulations, and to discuss the methodological issues and challenges in measuring and analyzing them, contributions will span from molecular mechanisms to clinical applications, from developmental trajectories to ethical considerations.
Specifically, we aim to:

 Summarize the existing evidence and theories on how the startle reflex and its modulations are affected by neurodevelopment, psychiatric, and disease states, and identify the gaps and limitations in the current knowledge.
 Explore the potential applications and implications of the startle reflex and its modulations in clinical practice, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of various neuropsychiatric disorders.
 Propose new hypotheses, paradigms, and techniques for advancing the startle reflex research, and to address the ethical and social issues and challenges in conducting and disseminating such research.

We welcome all types of articles addressing, but not limited to, the following:

 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, post-traumatic stress disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and Parkinson's disease, 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.