Anxiogenic effects of high illumination levels assessed with the acoustic startle response in rats
Open accessAbstract
Previous studies have shown that the amplitude of the acoustic startle reflex is increased by the presentation of aversive stimuli. In the present study, the amplitude of acoustic startle in rats was increased by exposure to high illumination levels. The effect was directly related to the intensity (0, 8, 70, and 700 footlamberts) of illumination (experiment I); was blocked by the anxiolytic compound buspirone (experiment II); and showed little or no habituation with repeated testing (experiment III). These results suggest that the elevation of startle amplitude by light may reflect an unconditioned anxiogenic effect of high illumination levels. The possible utility of this phenomenon as an animal model of anxiety is discussed.
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Light-enhanced startle is reduced selectively by both benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine anxiolytics.
“Light-enhanced startle was reduced selectively by both benzodiazepine (ie, chlordiazepoxide) and non-benzodiazepine (ie, flesinoxan, buspirone, and propranolol) anxiolytics (de Jongh et al, 2002; Walker and Davis, 1997a, 2002a).”
From Phasic vs Sustained Fear in Rats and Humans: Role of the Extended Amygdala in Fear vs Anxiety (2010) · cites this paper as Walker and Davis, 1997a
The shift from CeAM to BNSTL control may start 4-60 s after CS onset, with full BNSTL dependence taking several minutes.
“we suspect that the transition from CeAM to BNSTL involvement may begin between 4 and 60 s after CS onset, although it may be several minutes before the response is fully dependent on the BNSTL.”
From Phasic vs Sustained Fear in Rats and Humans: Role of the Extended Amygdala in Fear vs Anxiety (2010) · cites this paper as Walker and Davis, 1997a
Buspirone, which acts on serotonin and dopamine D2 receptors, has been reported repeatedly to lower fear-potentiated startle after acute dosing and also to lower light-enhanced startle.
“Buspirone is a mixed serotonergic agonist and dopamine D2 antagonist that has repeatedly been found to reduce the expression of fear-potentiated startle after acute administration (Kehne et al, 1988; Mansbach and Geyer, 1988), as well as light-enhanced startle (Walker and Davis, 1997a).”
From Phasic vs Sustained Fear in Rats and Humans: Role of the Extended Amygdala in Fear vs Anxiety (2010) · cites this paper as Walker and Davis, 1997a
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References 37 · Cited by 211
- Authors
- Walker, D. L., & Davis, M.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Walker, David L.
- ORCID
- Davis, Michael
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1997-09
- Volume
- 42
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 461-471
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2045161094
- Cited by
- 211
- References
- 37
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 3.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH 47840, MH 00004)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- anxiogenic effects, light intensity, acoustic startle response, startle amplitude, buspirone, anxiolytic effects, habituation, animal models of anxiety, rats
- MeSH terms
- Acoustic Stimulation, Animals, Anxiety, Buspirone, Conditioning, Psychological, Habituation, Psychophysiologic, Lighting, Male, Photic Stimulation, Reflex, Startle, Anti-Anxiety Agents, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats
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