Postural and eye-blink indices of the defensive startle reflex

Postural and eye-blink reactions to acoustic startle probes were examined in 24 volunteers, who completed two blocked conditions (baseline, startle). A postural reaction during the startle condition demonstrated a reflexive movement in the anterior-posterior direction, which was not observed during the baseline condition. This reflexive response was positively associated with the eye-blink reflex, such that larger blink magnitude related to greater posterior movement. These findings were not observed for postural movements in the medial-lateral direction. The results suggest that a measurable postural reaction may be observed following a startling acoustic stimulus, which may reflect generalized bodily flexion associated with a preparatory behavioral response.