Startle reflex modulation by pleasant and unpleasant odors in a between-subjects design

Psychophysiology. 1997 Nov;34(6):726-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02149.x.

Abstract

Participants were presented with an acoustic startle probe while they smelled either a pleasant odor or an unpleasant odor (n = 40 per condition). Within each condition, participants were presented with four blocks in which odor was present and four in which odor was not present (no-odor control). Significant differences were found in both conditions between the odor and no-odor blocks. In the unpleasant odor condition, blink magnitude was greater during the odor blocks; in the pleasant odor condition, blink magnitude was smaller during the odor blocks.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Controlled Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Adult
  • Affect / physiology
  • Arousal / physiology
  • Breath Tests
  • Electromyography
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Odorants*
  • Reflex, Startle / physiology*