Evidence for Startle Effects due to Externally Induced Lower Limb Movements: Implications in Neurorehabilitation

Figure 1

Representative trials from one subject depicting responses from extensor carpi radialis (ECR), orbicularis oculi (OOc), and sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscles in conditions 240React, 240StartReact, and 240PrepStartReact. The traces show a leftward displacement (anticipation) and larger integrated EMG activity in ECR in the 240StartReact and 240PrepStartReact trials as compared to the 240React trial. Startle-related responses in OOc and SCM (marked with asterisks: ) are present only in the 240StartReact trial, as they are suppressed by the prepulse in the 240PrepStartReact trial. KF: start of knee flexion. The vertical deflection 100 ms before KF is a stimulus artifact.