Recovery of Motor Performance following Startle

Abstract

Summmy.-The present study was designed to provide information concerning the extent to which startle disrupts motor performance, the rate of recovery, and characteristics of Ss who differ in susceptibility to startle. 30 Ss were trained on both reaction time and tracking tasks. Continuous recordings were taken of heart rate and skin conductance. During a subsequent period of continuous tracking, "startle" stimuli (115 db random noise) were unexpectedly presented. Results showed the recovery of tracking performance following startle to be quite rapid; performance returned to pre-stimulus levels within 15 sec. following stimulation. Contrary to several previous studies, reaction times to the startle stimuli decreased relative to nonstarrle reaction times. Ss with the greatest increase in tracking error following startle were least proficient prior to startle. There was also an indication that these Ss reacted more strongly to startle, in terms of both their subjective response and heart-rate acceleration, than those Ss whose tracking was least impaired by startle. An apparent covariation between recovery curves for heart rate and tracking error was found following startle.

The process of auditory distraction: Disrupted attention and impaired recall in a simulated lecture environment.

“…effect. If similar to the startle effect, the jarring noises would result in poor recall of information presented after that noise, with performance recovering quickly after (Thackray & Touchstone, 1970). Cumulatively, this jarring effect (whether startle related or not) could produce the overall impairment observed in the means analyses of Experiments 1 and 2.…”

“…According to the jarring-noises subhypothesis, sounds that are out of place, odd, or jarring will cause a sense of surprise when the sounds are heard, causing a momentary shift of attention at the site of the noise, which can be thought of as either a minor startle effect or as a different effect without the neuronal basis of the startle effect. If similar to the startle effect, the jarring noises would result in poor recall of information presented after that noise, with performance recovering quickly after (Thackray & Touchstone, 1970). Cumulatively, this jarring effect (whether startle related or not) could produce the overall impairment observed in the means analyses of Experiments 1 and 2.…”

“…There is also ample evidence for an auditory startle effect, with loud and sudden noises producing emotional and physiological arousal, distracting attention, and impairing performance on concurrent tasks (Vlasak, 1969; Woodhead, 1958). This impairment is temporary, and performance on cognitive or recall tasks recovers within seconds (Thackray & Touchstone, 1970). The startle effect has a clear neuronal basis and appears to be homogenous in mammal species, functioning as an adaptive protection against a sudden threat (Koch, 1999).…”

Investigating and acquiring motor expertise using virtual reality

“…Sudden adverse scenarios often trigger an uncontrollable reaction to a sudden, intense event that violates an individual's expectations. They lead to extreme changes in the autonomic nervous system: rapid heart rate, heightened blood pressure, muscle tremor in limbs, changes in cognitive state, perception, and fine motor control [88]. Nonetheless, Captain Sullenberger's level-headedness and situational awareness ensured he could plan and coordinate an immediate landing in the Hudson despite being caught off-guard by the sudden engine failure.…”

A narrative review of the interconnection between pilot acute stress, startle, and surprise effects in the aviation context: Contribution of physiological measurements

“…Although several studies have been carried out to study stress in the literature, few studies have focused on distinguishing the physiological effects associated with the concepts of acute stress, startle effect, and surprise. More specifically, the startle effect was studied earlier in the 1970s to understand the consequences of a brutal (loud sound) shock on pilots (Thackray and Touchstone, 1970); differently, the surprise effect was studied more recently in connection with the automation surprise and the occurrence of an unexpected event in the cockpit (Kochan et al, 2004). Landman et al (2017a) recently proposed a conceptual model that brings together current knowledge about the startle effect, surprise and acute stress (Figure 2).…”