The Tiny Molecule Responsible for Startle Syndrome

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Flinching in response to an unexpected loud noise might not be pleasant, but it's also not a problem for most people. For one family, however, getting startled would cause their bodies to go stiff and fall.
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[@SciShowPsych]

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[@editname6868]

You’re first

[@knucklesskinner253]

Cant, my knees hurt thinking about all the people that had to fall to make this video

[@dorissaclaire]

Okay I know change is scary but I am loving the new look! The new “P” part of the logo is taking a little getting used to but the graphics and layout are amazing. Good job SciShow team!

[@therabbithat]

Psychology doesn't begin with a P sound, so the logo confused the heck out of me

[@rogerhinman5427]

Reminds of those goats who fall over when startled.

[@mrdonetx]

Should have named it "Fainting Goat Syndrome" scientists are horrible at naming things. It has to be a requirement to be a scientist.

[@kateclark7250]

Fainting goat syndrome?

[@kateclark7250]

I think it's called FGS

[@theseigemeister]

I thought the exact same thing Lmao. 🐐 😂🤣

[@icollectstories5702]

I thought so, too, but that's a different mechanism.

[@dshe8637]

I'm imagining a bunch of scientists gleefully running to the second family whooping 'We found another one!'

[@fernandoavila3929]

You’re probably right.

[@terryenby2304]

I have a friend who does this. I don’t, thankfully. But I have PTSD so every startle is me gasping for breath and causes chest pain sometimes! I jump so far too :( Please don’t think it’s funny to make someone jump if you don’t know their reactions.

[@animeartist888]

As someone who does not have either of these conditions but personally hates being startled, I heavily agree. Don't just go around spooking people and think you're being friendly and hilarious.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

This is interesting. Certain fatigued, exhausted forms of Major depressive disorder have exaggerated startle response.

[@MaskedNozza]

Huh. I have panic disorder and I do have larger-than-average startle responses, given the same trigger. It's interesting to learn the chemistry of how and why, and I didn't realise how far back in evolution or how basic this chemistry is. Great video 👍

[@h7opolo]

Stronger*, not "larger"

[@mkcatrona]

I have hypereflexia as a symptom of my chiari 1 malformation. I wonder if it is at all related. I don’t think my reactions are as extreme as this condition, but I do I unusually strong reflexes. Let’s just say that when a doctor hits my knee with a hammer they better not be standing within range of my foot.

[@HForHawk]

Fortunately it is not related, hyperreflexia in your case is caused by upper motor neuron lesion, not neurotransmitter imbalance ;)

[@robertschnobert9090]

@@HForHawk I'm too stupid to understand your comment haha can you put it in simple English? 🌈

[@StaticR]

alien: "your glycene receptors intruige me" me: "yeah, runs in the family"

[@troyclayton]

Huh, human versions of 'fainting' goats. Who'd a thunk it.

[@KY_CPA]

I was hoping we'd hear about Fainting Sheep in this episode too. I've of my High School English teachers raised them. They're adorable and fascinating

[@escha_b]

That drop seizure- like activity, described in that one family, sounds kinda like cataplexy (as in narcolepsy with cataplexy)

[@dawn3737]

Is cataplexy at all related to this pathway? My daughter is narcoleptic and drops to the ground specifically when anyone grabs her sides, I.E., gooses her. This has been diagnosed as cataplexy in her. Wondering if they are related, or caused by something different.

[@thesicklife8379]

Great video! This is one of the hallmark symptoms of Stiff Person Syndrome and GAD65.

[@merrillsunderland8662]

So doctors found families of humans who had fainting goat disorder?

[@gamesturbator]

A neurologist told me that my Tourettes was causing me to be started way more than the average person. You can stand in the same room with me and then say something and I will ofter scream out sudden in sudden "fright."

[@TiaKatt]

Huhh, you know, I do startle more easily than other people outside my own family - who also pretty much all have Tourette's. I don't startle nearly as strongly as you do, but there certainly seems to be something there. I'd never associated it with my Tourette's before the aside at the end of this video and your comment.

[@therabbithat]

This is interesting. You know tourettes is ND like ADHD, big overlap, maybe my startles are that and not trauma related. At home I fall to the floor like Hank described a minute in when I get a fright, but in public I freeze up instead

[@gamesturbator]

@@therabbithat Just noticed that I spelled it started instead of startled. A guy at work kept startling me on purpose (MANY times) and I should have gone to HR. If I had known at the time it was part of my disability (one of many, genetic winner here) I would have gotten him fired.

[@griseldojamesnunez4154]

Also this reminds me of the lizard from Rango, maybe someone already said that. When i read startle I was thinking like my previous comment the one where people jump or scream. Like those people who startle people on purpose like those clown or snowmen. I’m the guy that automatically punches and shoves, hard like one was defending against a murderer. Just always been that way. Even happens in my sleep with dreams to….just ask the wife. Thankfully never hit her. Though legs have kicked but usually those from mostly from dream falls or full on coming out of mid fight for life.

[@jer103]

It's amazing the variety in the mutation in our genes. That in certain circumstances, our bodies change to adapt.

[@mandyj011]

That's so interesting!! Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ChoralAlchemist]

This is VERY cool!

[@griseldojamesnunez4154]

What about people like me who with sudden noises, bumps, touches, even saying my name, etc, can cause to jump, swing around, and punch? Fortunately, I can act in the last nano second to pull myself back in time to not connect or the person is far enough away to begin that I cant connect. However, that has not always been the case. Those cases involve people doing it on purposes and then crying about it later when they didn't move fast enough. They git what they deserved. Thankfully my boss agreed with me.

[@gregbrightwell662]

You just have to school them, real good. My father and I are the same way. I tell all the new guys, and warn them about jerks trying to set them up for a smackin.

[@icollectstories5702]

If you're suggestible, look up "Jumping Frenchmen of Maine." There seem to be a few similar syndromes. If this impacts your life, see a doctor. IMO, getting old slows everything down.

[@gregbrightwell662]

@@icollectstories5702 My dad will be 77 this year. If he were startled by a bird, he could slap it out of the air.

[@griseldojamesnunez4154]

@@gregbrightwell662 I tell them not to doing that all the time. If they try their luck they get what they get. My little brother tried in Target once, but he knew. I swung around full force helicopter on him but ducked down to the floor like he was getting shot at. 🤣 If it was Target employee that person would have laid out.

[@griseldojamesnunez4154]

@@icollectstories5702 I’ll have to look that up.

[@NewMessage]

Oh... Wow. I have a strong startle response. Usually noise or touch related... But I get angry. Gonna talk to my Doc. about this molecule.

[@Acceleronics]

Me too! I always have to warn dental hygienists and nurses giving me shots or IVs that every muscle in my body is going to tense up for a moment.

[@TheZiiFamily]

So is this why i basically jump out of my skin when someone says hi when im not paying attention

[@therabbithat]

There are loads of possible reasons. Eg trauma, hyperfocus

[@TheZiiFamily]

@@therabbithat “hyperfocus” i think that sounds like what it could be

[@stevencampbell7394]

New channel logo? Looks great!

[@AtrumNuntius]

Jeez I'm glad I don't have that. I live on the 3rd floor so I'd be risking disaster every time I went outside.

[@caitlin7311]

I’d love some more content epilepsy and seizure disorders and how they work. Or what scientists think causes them.

[@brendakrieger7000]

Yes!! I hate the doorbell and phone ringing!

[@titusabraham4184]

Interesting that clonezapam works here as it does with acute anxiety and panic attacks. Similar mechanism of action?

[@ladyscarfaceangel4616]

It works by depressing the nervous system responses, so it also helps with restless leg syndrome, & seizures. It comes at a price though. Delta 8 also helps alot & I prefer it tbh. Benzos have their place though. I'm not knocking them. I just don't personally like using them. It made me have seizures when I didn't take them. Benzo withdrawal can actually be dangerous. But if it helps someone, then that's what it takes. It took me six years to get off those, so I don't wanna go back. As long as ppl are aware of what benzos can do, & they are careful, they are great for panic attacks, RLS, & other nervous system disorders.

[@enlightenedhd8776]

I have a question I’d love a video to or just someone to explain it to me, my whole life I have had depression, anxiety, and ADHD. I was wondering where at on an evolutionary stand point would things like this make sense? Why would we want to take our own lives if evolution wants us to pass our genes on? Same with anxiety I understand fear is a very important thing to have it makes you not do dumb things. But why does it have to be to a degree of you having a panic attack it doesn’t seem logical to me and I was just wondering if anyone had any knowledge on it or if scishow could do a video on it!!

[@animeartist888]

Not a Phd or anything, but I'd wager a guess that it's less "it makes sense" and more "something went wrong" just that the errors aren't being weeded out by evolution like they would normally because humans have gotten so good at surviving. Consider all the people who are paralyzed or otherwise severely handicapped. They wouldn't survive if it weren't for human civilization and technology. Same with these conditions you've mentioned. If it weren't for how humans have come to live, those little accidents in the brain would probably spell death. But not in today's society because we've learned how to combat or at least cope with them.

[@Fomites]

I am one of many like you.

[@another_blacktomcat]

Isn't that EXTREMLY similar to Cataplexy, which is linked to narcolepsy?

[@amydebuitleir]

Wonder if there is any similarity to the "Jumping Frenchmen" of Maine (another interesting story).

[@suly3243]

can you make a video about tourettic ocd

[@Endigo_Vandane]

The signal is coming from inside the brain!

[@peacewillow]

i watched till the end, waiting for you to mention fainting goats, but you never did. 😥🐐💕

[@3minem1337]

What about those cute goats that tip over when startled, is it the same mechanism for them?

[@kell_checks_in]

But, why does Klonopin go paradoxical in me? The only thing I've found that helps my HPX is meclizine. (And, is all this related to severe alcoholism in my family going back at lease 3 generations? I don't dare drink enough alcohol for it to be "therapeutic.") I plan to use this video to help convince some people in my HOA to not change our 60-year-old community "no pets" provision. One of my biggest drop attack triggers is dog barking.

[@SaucerJess]

💙💙💙

[@fraliexb]

Wonder if this is related to Fainting Goats?

[@lindaedvardsson4218]

Wow.. so this is a real thing..😲.. I just thought I was neurotic🥴 My kids has had many funny times scaring me for my unusual reaction.. but ok..now I think its just another symptom av my chronic lyme disease and co..🙄 actually.. 💚. I can tell You all that this at least mine reaction is extreme pain in my whole body😩.. and shaking..disappear in a sec.. or two..👋🏼😌🇸🇪

[@fyzzlefry]

Quick shoutout to the doctor that smacked the dude in the top of the leg with his hammer just so the dude would know what's up.

[@Shatterverse]

Human feinting goats. I shouldn't laugh, but it's funny lol

[@grey_wolf_tg2235]

Similar to the fainting goats?

[@shabankullolli1499]

As soon as I saw the molecule, I understood that is was Glycine.

[@Nyan_Kitty]

Reading the title immediately made ma wonder "will Hank do a jump scare again?"

[@Nyan_Kitty]

... do I really wanna watch? xD

[@DisOcean8]

okay they found a treatment, but taking benzodiazepines have been shown to increase risks of dementia. it's interesting how these neuron-receptors, that could be the building blocks for consciousness, are one of the first things that go to dementia(?)

[@telegramsam]

Benzos are horrific drugs for a lot of reasons (especially the withdrawal syndrome, which can be fatal), but they succeeded barbiturates, which were definitely Worse. I hope they can find a treatment that isn't so dangerous. (Alcohol ain't it either, that'll kill you too)

[@eddierayvanlynch6133]

0:28 😒 Ooooh, this has *nothing* to do with Twilight. Nevermind...

[@raeperonneau4941]

Does anyone other than me wonder who the people are who dislike these videos? What’s to dislike? 😂

[@Jay-ho9io]

Education. It doesn't take a long read to the news to realize an awful lot of folks are against it. 🤦🏽‍♂️🤷🏽‍♂️

[@fabimre]

Like the "Fainting Goats"?

[@diablominero]

Haven't watched yet, but based on the structure in the thumbnail, I think it's gonna be glycine.

[@MrLisso98]

More algorythm food

[@mrscarter6279]

😲

[@mr.lahgcomics5712]

Brian bean

[@cassieoz1702]

Like 'fainting' goats?

[@Infernoraptor]

This is really interesting. As a programmer, it's surprising to me that this condition can occur. I mean, in a wild animal, it'd be a near certain death sentence. I'd expect evolution to produce some sort of fail safe that would auto-correct any mutations that would change any gene this critical. PS: I'm was shocked to realize that this "startled people getting a sorta-seizure and becoming limb-locked" disorder is NOT the same as the fainting goat disease. Wtf?

[@SnarkNSass]

I have a Sensitive Startle Throttle.... Can no longer drive, the kids think it's funny coz I make crazy noises.😒🙄

[@carsondickerson5125]

Oi

[@sean..L]

Wondarium sounds way better then Wondrium.

[@sophierobinson2738]

Yes. Wondarium sounds like a place. Wondrium sounds like a new element on the periodic table.

[@gaeshows1938]

loo

[@alexwilliamns]

Please take a comment for the algorithm.

[@rundata]

sponsored by PPV wikipedia

[@jimbob-jn6jz]

No i wont pay to video watch videos that are probably on KZbin!

[@Acradus]

Theory: Glycine which was used by primitive life to hunt other life, was adapted to be released in bursts as a way to scramble the hunter’s sense of where the source was. It also serves to tell other neighbor lifeforms to spew a burst to scramble any other hunters too

[@CollinOffTheCuff]

I'll go out on a limb here and say nah. It isn't so much that it is a sign of prey/predator, it is a sign of lots of resources. To be fair to you, I think the sourcing for the claims made about primitive life all either A) tell a different story with an educated read through, B) are proper experts and are making the claim, but in a field they are not an expert in. One of them was making claims that with a high school or entry college level understanding of biology would make some sense, but from a current biochemistry and biochemical physiology understanding do not.

[@swimdownx6365]

Ever notice look at deep psychological issues on everyone will having own mental tricks of blocking memories thoughts and defining logic themself .

[@lIlIllIlIllIlllIllIIIIIIIIIlII]

Sup

[@procrastinator99]

SEVENTH

[@KA-tu2em]

DONT DO METH

[@michaelelbert5798]

I have heard about meat goats but not meat humans. Can't be ancient, cuz those genes wouldn't last long .

[@lancecoleman7440]

where/how...etc "WILL' i, "CAN" i, get/obtain/receive/accept/be given/find in nature/make...etc the equivalent of clonazepam asap and what/how...etc, freely and legally forever and i, Lance Derek Coleman, never be/go without it and or without it again, unrestricted, forever?

[@AutisticThinker]

Is this a joke? People with anxiety and drinking issues are NOT taken serious; and are also blocked from access to clonazepam or other benzodiazepines that would ease their withdrawal symptoms; NOT the case when I successfully quit drinking from 2006-2008 with the help of them. ;(