The primary goal of this research project is to extend our knowledge about the functional role of one of the most basic types of human reactions, the startle reflex. As pointed out earlier, although much is known about the startle reflex, there are clear gaps in our understanding of this ubiquitous human reaction. The most fundamental of these gaps relates to the functional reason humans are startled by intense sensory stimulation. The general assumption is that the startle reaction serves to interrupt ongoing process in the CNS so attention can be directed to process the source of the intense threatening stimulus. The proposed research project challenges this static role of the startle reflex and seeks to provide an integrative understanding
