Startle Reflex Task

The Startle Reflex Task is an assessment of physiological and subjective stress reactivity. In the task, participants have to watch nine short videos: 3 videos for habituation, 2 positive, 2 neutral and 2 unpleasant videos. During the videos, participants are startled by a white noise, and they are instructed to ignore them. After the task, participants review the videos and rate them by their valence.

Physiological stress-reactivity was measured through heart rate, heart rate variability, pre-ejection period, blood pressure, baroreflex sensitivity, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and eye blink reflexes during the videos. Subjective stress reactivity was measured with the Self-Assessment Manikin, Profiles of Moods Schedule (POMS), and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

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Keywords
Constructs
Waves
  • Population cohort

  • POP - T3
  •   C
    15.0 - 17.0 years   From 2005-09-01 to 2008-08-31

  • Clinical cohort

  • CC - T3
  •   C
    15.0 - 17.0 years   From 2009-09-01 to 2011-02-28

    Mode of collection MeasurementsAndTests    Behavioral/cognitive task Biological sample/measurement
    Analysis unit Individual
    Instrument name Startle Reflex Task
    References
    You can also access this dataset using the API (see API Docs).