The effects of threat and nonthreat word lead stimuli on blink modification

Abstract

Two experiments examined the effects of visually presented threat and nonthreat word lead stimuli on blink modification among unselected young adults (Experiment 1, N = 35) and participants selected for low and high trait anxiety (Experiment 2, N = 60). The blink reflex was elicited by a white noise probe of 105 dB. Lead stimulus intervals of 60, 120, 240, and 2000 ms were used in both experiments. Prepulse inhibition was observed at the 240-ms interval and prepulse facilitation was observed at the 60-ms interval in both experiments. Also, greater facilitation was found in both experiments during threat words at the 60-ms interval and greater inhibition during threat words at the 240-ms interval. Experiment 2 provided some evidence that the greater facilitation during threat words than during nonthreat words at the 60-ms probe interval may be found in high trait anxious participants, but not in low trait anxious participants. The results are discussed in relation to contemporary information processing theories of anxiety.