Family study of the startle reflex and event‐related potentials in anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat in adolescents and their parents

A heightened sensitivity to unpredictable threat has been identified as a potential transdiagnostic mechanism of psychopathology. The majority of supporting research has been conducted in adults, and it is unclear whether psychophysiological indicators of sensitivity to unpredictable threat are comparable in youth during developmental periods associated with increased risk for psychopathology. In addition, no studies have examined whether sensitivity to unpredictable threat is correlated between parents and their offspring. The present study examined defensive motivation (startle reflex) and attentional engagement (probe N100, P300) in anticipation of predictable and unpredictable threat in a sample of 15‐year‐old adolescents (N = 395) and a biological parent (N = 379). Adolescents, compared to their parents, demonstrated greater startle potentiation and probe N100 enhancement in anticipation of unpredictable threat. In addition, overall startle potentiation in anticipation of threat was correlated between the adolescents and their parents. Adolescence is a key developmental period characterized by heightened defensive motivation and attentional engagement in anticipation of both predictable and unpredictable threat. Sensitivity to threat might index is one mechanism of vulnerability that is at least partially shared between parents and their offspring. This is the first family study to compare multiple psychophysiological indicators of sensitivity to unpredictable threat between adolescents and their biological parents. Adolescents, relative to their parents, demonstrate greater defensive motivation and early attentional engagement in anticipation of unpredictable threat. Moreover, the study provides novel evidence that defensive motivation in anticipation of threat is positively correlated between adolescents and their parents.