Auditory fear conditioning modulates prepulse inhibition in socially reared rats and isolation-reared rats.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is the reduction of the startle reflex when the startling stimulus is shortly preceded by a non-startling stimulus. Previous studies have shown that PPI in rats can be enhanced by auditory fear conditioning (AFC) but weakened by isolation rearing. This study investigated whether isolation rearing affects the effect of AFC on PPI.