The acoustic startle response is an unconditional reflex manifested as a rapid contraction of facial and skeletal muscles in response to a sudden and intense startling stimulus. Translational research ...

The acoustic startle response is an unconditional reflex involving rapid facial and skeletal muscle movements triggered by sudden, startling stimuli like sound or light. Studying the acoustic startle ...

In the wild, horses must be alert for predators that might attack them. This means that even domesticated horses are hardwired to be aware of danger and can scare easily. Unfortunately, this so-called ...

I’ve been reading a lot recently about the startle reflex as it applies to folks who suffer with panic disorder and agoraphobia. As you probably suspected, people diagnosed with this wretched curse ...

A car backfires, and your shoulders jump. A shadow moves, and your eyes fly open before your brain catches up. That dramatic flash of white sclera around widened eyes feels automatic because it is.

Your baby’s flinch when his sister screams feels alarming, and you want a clear answer about whether it harms him. A startled reaction is usually a normal reflex, not a sign of lasting damage, but ...