Does startle explain the exaggerated first response to a transient perturbation?

Abstract

Here we review recent experimental evidence suggesting that exaggerated muscle response to an unfamiliar transient perturbation consists of combined postural and startle responses. Summation of these two independent responses explains the experimental data and suggests that habituation consists of the extinction of the startle response leaving only the postural response. ©2008The Amercian College of Sports Medicine.