[The startle response and epilepsy]

Startle responses (SR) are described as epileptic and non-epileptic attacks and their mechanisms are poorly understood. Long-loop reflexes and a satisfactory response to L-tryptophan treatment have only seldom been published in this condition. This prompted us to report a case with epilepsy and startle-induced tonic spasms, the latter refractory to all conventional medication except for L-tryptophan. Special emphasis is placed on the electrophysiological findings. Similar observations of non-habituation of SR in post-anoxic brain damage and in the case of startle epilepsy possibly suggest a deficit of cortical inhibition, probably in the supplementary motor area, rather than brain stem dysfunction in both instances.