Startle potentiation in aversive anticipation: Evidence for state but not trait effects

Jack B. Nitschke; Christine L. Larson; Marian J. Smoller; Sarah D. Navin; Adrian J.C. Pederson; Dante Ruffalo; Kristen L. Mackiewicz; Shannon M. Gray; Elise Victor; Richard J. Davidson

doi:10.1017/S0048577202010156

Startle potentiation in aversive anticipation: Evidence for state but not trait effects

Jack B. Nitschke, Christine L. Larson, Marian J. Smoller, Sarah D. Navin, Adrian J.C. Pederson, Dante Ruffalo, Kristen L. Mackiewicz, Shannon M. Gray, Elise Victor, Richard J. Davidson

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

46 Scopus citations

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine whether aversiveness contributes to startle potentiation in anticipation of affective pictures above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal. Further, participants high in trait anxious apprehension, which is characterized by worry about the future, were expected to show especially pronounced anticipatory startle responses. Startle blink reflex was measured during warning stimuli that predicted the valence of ensuing aversive/unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral pictures. Startle magnitude was larger in anticipation of aversive than of pleasant pictures and smallest in anticipation of neutral pictures. Enhanced startle potentiation was not found in anxious apprehension subjects. These data suggest that the aversive nature of stimuli contribute to the potentiation of startle above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal, which may be a universal phenomenon not modulated by individual differences.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	254-258
Number of pages	5
Journal	Psychophysiology
Volume	39
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0048577202010156
State	Published - 2002
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Anticipation
Anticipatory anxiety
Anxious apprehension
Emotion
Startle reflex

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Physiology (medical)
Physiology

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title = "Startle potentiation in aversive anticipation: Evidence for state but not trait effects",

abstract = "The present study was undertaken to determine whether aversiveness contributes to startle potentiation in anticipation of affective pictures above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal. Further, participants high in trait anxious apprehension, which is characterized by worry about the future, were expected to show especially pronounced anticipatory startle responses. Startle blink reflex was measured during warning stimuli that predicted the valence of ensuing aversive/unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral pictures. Startle magnitude was larger in anticipation of aversive than of pleasant pictures and smallest in anticipation of neutral pictures. Enhanced startle potentiation was not found in anxious apprehension subjects. These data suggest that the aversive nature of stimuli contribute to the potentiation of startle above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal, which may be a universal phenomenon not modulated by individual differences.",

keywords = "Anticipation, Anticipatory anxiety, Anxious apprehension, Emotion, Startle reflex",

author = "Nitschke, {Jack B.} and Larson, {Christine L.} and Smoller, {Marian J.} and Navin, {Sarah D.} and Pederson, {Adrian J.C.} and Dante Ruffalo and Mackiewicz, {Kristen L.} and Gray, {Shannon M.} and Elise Victor and Davidson, {Richard J.}",

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language = "English (US)",

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AU - Nitschke, Jack B.

AU - Larson, Christine L.

AU - Smoller, Marian J.

AU - Navin, Sarah D.

AU - Pederson, Adrian J.C.

AU - Ruffalo, Dante

AU - Mackiewicz, Kristen L.

AU - Gray, Shannon M.

AU - Victor, Elise

AU - Davidson, Richard J.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - The present study was undertaken to determine whether aversiveness contributes to startle potentiation in anticipation of affective pictures above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal. Further, participants high in trait anxious apprehension, which is characterized by worry about the future, were expected to show especially pronounced anticipatory startle responses. Startle blink reflex was measured during warning stimuli that predicted the valence of ensuing aversive/unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral pictures. Startle magnitude was larger in anticipation of aversive than of pleasant pictures and smallest in anticipation of neutral pictures. Enhanced startle potentiation was not found in anxious apprehension subjects. These data suggest that the aversive nature of stimuli contribute to the potentiation of startle above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal, which may be a universal phenomenon not modulated by individual differences.

AB - The present study was undertaken to determine whether aversiveness contributes to startle potentiation in anticipation of affective pictures above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal. Further, participants high in trait anxious apprehension, which is characterized by worry about the future, were expected to show especially pronounced anticipatory startle responses. Startle blink reflex was measured during warning stimuli that predicted the valence of ensuing aversive/unpleasant, pleasant, or neutral pictures. Startle magnitude was larger in anticipation of aversive than of pleasant pictures and smallest in anticipation of neutral pictures. Enhanced startle potentiation was not found in anxious apprehension subjects. These data suggest that the aversive nature of stimuli contribute to the potentiation of startle above and beyond the effects of emotional arousal, which may be a universal phenomenon not modulated by individual differences.

KW - Anticipation

KW - Anticipatory anxiety

KW - Anxious apprehension

KW - Emotion

KW - Startle reflex

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Startle potentiation in aversive anticipation: Evidence for state but not trait effects

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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