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Full length article| Volume 34, ISSUE 4, P253-260, August 15, 1993

Men are more inhibited than women by weak prepulses

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(93)90079-S
Men are more inhibited than women by weak prepulses
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      Abstract

      The acoustic startle reflex is normally inhibited when the startling stimulus is preceded by a weak prepulse. We studied “prepulse inhibition” (PPI) to assess potential gender differences in this operational measure of sensorimotor gating. A review of data from our previously published studies in psychiatric patients and normal controls indicated that startle in women was less inhibited by weak prepulses than was startle in men, and that this gender difference narrowed when stronger prepulses were used to elicit maximal levels of PPI. Based on these observations, new subjects were selected for study using our established criteria to exclude individuals with psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, or serious neurologic or medical illness. Replicating our preliminary observation, women exhibited significantly less PPI than men, with the gender difference being most notable under conditions with weak prepulses. Potentially confounding variables, including electrode impedance, startle amplitude, habituation and latency did not differ between men and women. PPI was then measured in male and female rats, where no gender differences were noted. These findings identify significant gender differences in PPI in humans, and suggest that inhibitory “gating” processes are more robust in men than in women, when assessed using a sensitive range of inhibitory stimuli.

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      Article Info

      Publication History

      Received in revised form: May 6, 1993
      Received: January 4, 1993

      Footnotes

      ☆This work was supported by NIMH Grants R29 MH48381 (NRS) and MH-42228 (DLB, MAG, NRS), and RSDA Grant MH-00188 (MAG). The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Navid Taaid, Ms. Debra Bortz, Mr. Sam Zinner, and Ms. Patricia Hartman. Some methods in this study are identical to those previously reported by the authors (Swerdlow et al 1993); the description of this methodology may duplicate these previous reports.

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(93)90079-S

      Copyright

      © 1993 Published by Elsevier Inc.

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