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Contributed by Marcelo Merello, MD Director, Neuroscience Department Head Movement Disorders Section Institute for Neurological Research Raul Carrea (FLENI) Buenos Aires, Argentina
Click here to view videos depicting startle and myoclonus (Members Only)
Startle is a stereotypical response to a sudden and unexpected stimulus. In most instances, the stimulus is acoustic, but other modalities such as tactile, visual, or vestibular are also effective stimuli. The motor component of startle satisfies the criteria for myoclonus.
Exaggerated startle, is a feature of various neurologic and psychiatric conditions. Hyperekplexia is an uncommon clinical syndrome that is characterized by brisk and generalized startle in response to trivial (most often acoustic or tactile) stimulation. Habituation of startle with repeated stimulation or attenuation with pre-warning is poor.
Hyperekplexia may occur with a genetic background or as an acquired disorder. Hereditary hyperekplexia (or startle disease) manifests shortly after birth with violent jerking to noise and touch, and massive and sustained stiffening of the trunk and limbs, clenching fists, and attacks of a high-frequency trembling.
Newborns are at risk for sudden infant death due to laryngospasm and cardiorespiratory failure. Symptomatic hyperekplexia is a clinical sign of brain or brainstem disorders without known specificity for the nature or the precise site of the lesion.
Find reference(s) to Myoclonus here:
Journal CME Receive CME credit on articles related to myoclonus
Abstracts Search abstracts on PD submitted to the International Congress (Vancouver, BC)
Scientific Program View the Final Program to find topics regarding PD at the International Congress (Vancouver, BC).
Teaching and Themed Courses Order streaming content of the Teaching Courses or Themed Courses from past Congresses
2018 and 2019 Find conferences pertaining to myoclonus scheduled in 2018 and 2019
Supported and Endorsed Meetings Find meetings supported and endorsed by MDS pertaining to myoclonus
Movement Disorders Journal Find articles on myoclonus from the MDS Journal
Movement Disorders Clinical Practice Movement Disorders Clinical Practice is an online journal committed to publishing high-quality, peer reviewed articles related to clinical aspects of movement disorders.
Video Library Search for video on myoclonus in the Movement Disorders Journal supplements (Members Only)
Reviews & Position Papers View complete collection of Evidence-Based Medicine reviews and task force papers published in the Movement Disorders Journal
Moving Along Find articles on myoclonus in the Moving Along newsletter
Movement Disorders Books Purchase books on startle and myoclonus from the bookstore