Impact of stimulus signal-to-noise ratio on prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle

Authors: Franklin, Joseph C.; Moretti, Nicole A.; Blumenthal, Terry D.

Source: Psychophysiology, Volume 44, Number 2, March 2007 , pp. 339-342(4)

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Abstract:

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the human acoustic startle response is reduced in the presence of background noise of a sufficient intensity, possibly due to a reduction in signal-to-noise ratio (prepulse intensity relative to background noise). We examined this hypothesis by varying prepulse intensity and background noise intensity in order to hold three different signal-to-noise ratios constant (5, 15, and 25 dB(A) above background noise intensity). The results showed that signal-to-noise ratio proved to be a more important factor than absolute stimulus intensity in determining the degree of PPI of startle eyeblink response magnitude. Therefore, the effectiveness of a prepulse is determined by prepulse salience, not intensity, and this effectiveness is equivalent across a range of physical intensities.

Keywords: Startle; Eyeblink; Prepulse; PPI; Stimulus intensity; Signal-to-noise ratio

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.2007.00498.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA

Publication date: 2007-03-01