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Neural Systems Involved in Fear‐Potentiated Startle
Author(s) -
DAVIS MICHAEL
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1989.tb42197.x
Subject(s) - haven , citation , annals , medical school , psychology , psychoanalysis , library science , cognitive science , medicine , classics , computer science , medical education , history , mathematics , combinatorics
The acoustic startle reflex offers a number of advantages for analyzing the neural bases of behavior. Startle apparently is mediated by excitatory amino acids at several of the synapses that comprise the short-latency startle pathway. The reflex is modulated by a variety of neurotransmitters at both the spinal and the supraspinal levels. In addition to showing habituation and sensitization, startle is increased in the presence of a fear stimulus. This may result from activation of the central nucleus of the amygdala which projects directly tot he acoustic startle pathway. A major challenge for future studies will be to determine what neurotransmitters, which are known to modulate startle, are involved in habituation, sensitization, and fear conditioning and to begin to analyze these processes at a cellular level.