StartleMonitor™ Systems · New SM3
The industry-standard startle reflex system — reengineered.
Generate virtually any acoustic stimulus, measure response in Newtons, and capture it on zero-light high-speed video — all in a quieter, lighter, self-calibrating station built for startle, habituation, PPI, tinnitus and pre-pulse facilitation research.
Overview
One platform for the full startle research toolkit
Kinder's SM3 StartleMonitor raises the bar on an already industry-leading system. With a record window now extending to 20 seconds, a self-calibrating 24-bit load cell, and the ability to generate virtually any sound stimulus, a single SM3 station supports startle response, habituation, pre-pulse inhibition (PPI), tinnitus assessment, and — new to the SM3 — pre-pulse facilitation (PPF). Each station connects to a single host PC over standard ethernet, eliminating the Behavioral System Core and bulky DB25/DB9 cabling of prior generations.
Key Features
What's new in the SM3
Every upgrade is designed to remove friction from your protocol and sharpen your data.
Create any sound
White, pink or brown noise, a pure tone, or your own .wav file — from 35–120 dB. Combine sources for two startle or pre-pulse sounds.
Newton-precise load cell
24-bit A/D converter (up from 14-bit) measures response in Newtons with 1,000× better resolution.
Up to 20-second window
From 1 ms to an effectively unlimited record window — enabling pre-pulse facilitation alongside PPI and habituation.
Self-calibrating
The load cell calibrates itself. No more stacking weights and turning dials before every session.
Zero-light high-speed video
Up to two infrared high-speed cameras (Full HD 2K, 100 fps) record the animal's response alongside the trace and support AI-driven analysis.
Lighter & quieter
Each station is ~20 lb (9 kg) lighter while retaining industry-leading 35 dB attenuation — 10 dB quieter than competitors.
7″ touchscreen
An intuitive touchscreen display replaces the switches and knobs of earlier systems.
On-station data retention
The last 24 hours of data is stored on each station, protecting your work in the event of a PC failure.
Simple ethernet wiring
Each station connects to the host PC over a single ethernet cable — no BSC, no DB25/DB9 looms.
Why Upgrade
SM3 vs. the SM1000 II
How the new SM3 compares to the prior-generation StartleMonitor.
| Capability | SM3 StartleMonitor | Prior StartleMonitor |
|---|---|---|
| Sound stimulus | White noise, pure tone, or any .wav file — combinable for startle, background & pre-pulse | White noise only |
| Record window | Up to 20 seconds — enables pre-pulse facilitation, PPI & habituation | Up to 0.5 seconds |
| Video | Option of up to 2 zero-light high-speed cameras | No camera option |
| Load cell calibration | Self-calibrating | Manual calibration |
| A/D resolution | 24-bit — response in Newtons | 14-bit — arbitrary units |
| Connectivity | Single ethernet cable per station — no BSC | DB25 station cables + DB9 to BSC; BSC required per 8 stations |
| Data protection | 24-hour on-station data retention | No on-station storage |
| Controls | 7″ touchscreen | Switches & knobs |
Specifications
Technical specifications
Supported assays: Startle · Habituation · Pre-Pulse Inhibition · Tinnitus · Pre-Pulse Facilitation. Post-collection analysis allows any slice of the data (e.g., by time window).
Applications
Built for the protocols you run
Resources
Documentation & downloads
Ready to bring the SM3 into your lab?
Tell us about your study and station count and we'll prepare a tailored quote — typically within one business day.
Or call +1 858 679-1515 · sales@kinderscientific.com
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