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

Figure 5

StartReact effects according to condition at 240°/s. Trials containing startle signs (conditions depicted in black) showed shorter latencies and larger responses in extensor carpi radialis (ECR) electromyographic recordings than those without startle signs (corresponding conditions depicted in grey), except for those with prepulse stimulation (data are medians and confidence intervals). Due to study protocol requirements, however, only few trials included a prepulse and, as expected, almost none contained startle signs (condition 240PrepStartReact), while most of them did not contain startle signs (condition 240PrepReact). Both showed ECR latencies and amplitudes similar to other conditions with startle signs, indicating that trials with a prepulse showed a StartReact effect, irrespective of the presence or absence of overt startle signs in orbicularis oculi or sternocleidomastoid muscles.