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Updated: Oct 4, 2026
Habituation and Prepulse Inhibition of Acoustic Startle in Rodents
Published on: September 1, 2011
Effects of phencyclidine on prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle response in the macaque
1Program in Cognitive Neuroscience and Schizophrenia, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY 10962, USA. javitt@nki.rfmh.org
Rationale:
Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR) provides an index of neurophysiological dysfunction in schizophrenia and a method for analyzing underlying neurochemical mechanisms. In rodents, phencyclidine (PCP) and other N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists induce schizophrenia-like PPI deficits. Similar effects have recently been observed in a New World monkey species, Cebus apella.
Objectives:
The present study evaluates the degree to which similar effects are observed in an Old World monkey, M. fascicularis.
Methods:
An initial study evaluated effects of interstimulus interval on PPI amplitude and latency. A subsequent study evaluated effects of PCP (0.25 mg/kg i.m.) on PPI of the ASR.
Results:
Prepulses reduced both the amplitude and latency of the ASR. PCP treatment prevented both effects without affecting amplitude or latency of the ASR itself.
Conclusions:
These results demonstrate that both amplitude reduction and latency facilitation are observed during PPI in the monkey and are disrupted by PCP.
