Sound-induced startle response as a function of time since shock.

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Abstract
With rats first subjected to an electric shock, a loud sound was introduced after varying delay intervals. Startle activity was measured by stabilimeter recording. The initial startle response was depressed in animals up to five seconds after electric shock, but for longer delays a smooth, negatively accelerated recovery curve was evidenced. Results for a control group receiving two startle stimuli at the same time intervals as the shock-startle stimulus for the experimental group suggested that "the initial depression of startle-reaction amplitude following shock might well be due to the inhibitory effects of shock upon effector mechanisms involved in audiogenic startle responses.".

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