Acoustic startle reflex in schizophrenia patients and their first-degree relatives: Evidence of normal emotional modulation

Author(s): Lebow, B., Lake, D. S., Katsanis, J., Iacono, W. G.

Journal/Book: Psychophysiology. 1999; 36: 40 West 20Th Street, New York, NY 10011-4211, USA. Cambridge Univ Press. 469-475.

Abstract: We investigated emotional disturbances in 36 schizophrenia patients, 48 of their first-degree relatives, and 56 controls to determine if abnormal affective startle modulation could be associated with genetic risk for schizophrenia. Both patients and relatives had a pattern of startle modulation indistinguishable from controls, with potentiated startle amplitude while viewing negative valence slides and attenuation while viewing positive slides. Patients with flat affect did not differ from those without in startle modulation or slide ratings. The patients and their relatives had lower pleasantness ratings of positive slides and the patients had higher pleasantness ratings of the negative slides than controls. The startle paradigm may not be useful for identifying individuals with a genetic liability for schizophrenia. The results suggest that low-level defensive and appetitive behaviors are unaffected in schizophrenia.

Note: Article Iacono WG, Univ Minnesota, Dept Psychol, 75 E River Rd, N218 Elliott Hall, Minneapolis,MN 55455 USA

Keyword(s): schizophrenia; genetic vulnerability; flat affect; emotion; startle reflex; negative symptoms; FEAR-POTENTIATED STARTLE; PERCEPTUAL ABERRATION; SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE; NEGATIVE SYMPTOMS; ATTENTION; ANHEDONIA; SCHIZOTYPY

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