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Related Concept Videos

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A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
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Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
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The muscles of the eye are sophisticated structures that control eye movement and focus, allowing for the precise and rapid adjustments necessary for vision. The human eye is controlled by ten muscles — six extraocular muscles, three intraocular muscles, and one primary eyelid retractor muscle.
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Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...
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The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a critical component of the peripheral nervous system, primarily responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions and maintaining homeostasis. It functions in tandem with the central nervous system (CNS) to seamlessly coordinate various physiological processes without the need for conscious control.
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REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 24, 2025

Classical Short-Delay Eyeblink Conditioning in One-Year-Old Children
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When reflex reactions oppose voluntary commands: The StartReact effect on eye opening.

Josep Valls-Solé1, Juan M Castellote2,3, Markus Kofler4

  • 1Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.

Psychophysiology
|December 21, 2020
PubMed
Summary

A startling auditory stimulus (SAS) speeds up eye opening and visual target location, demonstrating the StartReact effect enhances reaction time even when the startle response initially opposes the task.

Keywords:
Libet's clockStartReact effecteyelid movementorbicularis oculi EMGstartlevisual target

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Human motor control
  • Sensory processing

Background:

  • A startling auditory stimulus (SAS) triggers reflex responses, including orbicularis oculi muscle (OOc) contraction and eye closure.
  • The StartReact effect, induced by SAS, significantly shortens reaction time when individuals are prepared for a task.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the conflict between the StartReact effect and the requirement to open eyes for a visual task.
  • To quantify the impact of SAS on eye-opening reaction time and visual target localization.

Main Methods:

  • Healthy volunteers performed an eye-opening task upon sensing a somatosensory stimulus, locating a visual target.
  • Orbicularis oculi (OOc) electromyography (EMG) and eyelid movements were recorded.
  • A SAS was delivered simultaneously with the imperative stimulus in a subset of trials.

Main Results:

  • Reaction time for eye opening was significantly faster with SAS compared to no-SAS trials.
  • The time gap between subjective assessment and stimulus onset was shorter in SAS trials.
  • Despite a pre-movement OOc burst, SAS facilitated faster eye opening and target location.

Conclusions:

  • The StartReact effect can accelerate eye opening and visual search, overriding the typical startle-induced eye closure.
  • This suggests a modulation of motor responses by the StartReact phenomenon, even in seemingly contradictory tasks.