Operant GSR conditioning with cool air reinforcement. 1975

H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri

Two groups of 20 Ss each run individually in a soundproff chamber heated to 115 F and humidified to 100%. Ss in the experimental group received brief presentation of cool air contingent upon wmitted GSRs during 20 min of acquisition. Control Ss were matched on at a time in operant rate and were yoked one at a time to receive the cool air on a response-independent schedule. Both groups increased significantly in rate of unelicited GSRs during acquisition, with the experimental Ss' curve rising more rapidly and both groups attaining equivalent terminal levels. During extinction, the groups maintained high levels of responding and did not differ. Examination of basal skin conductance data ruled our an activation hypothesis. In the control Ss, terminal response frequency was significantly correlated with percentage of fortuitous response-contigent reinforcement. It was concluded that both croups were conditioned, with the controls receiving intermittent reinforcement sufficiently often to elevate their responding. The cool air was judged to be an effective reinforcer of unelicited GSRs, perhaps more effective than those used in previous studies.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D012054 Reinforcement, Psychology The strengthening of a conditioned response. Negative Reinforcement,Positive Reinforcement,Psychological Reinforcement,Reinforcement (Psychology),Negative Reinforcements,Positive Reinforcements,Psychological Reinforcements,Psychology Reinforcement,Psychology Reinforcements,Reinforcement, Negative,Reinforcement, Positive,Reinforcement, Psychological,Reinforcements (Psychology),Reinforcements, Negative,Reinforcements, Positive,Reinforcements, Psychological,Reinforcements, Psychology
D003080 Cold Temperature An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm. Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D003216 Conditioning, Operant Learning situations in which the sequence responses of the subject are instrumental in producing reinforcement. When the correct response occurs, which involves the selection from among a repertoire of responses, the subject is immediately reinforced. Instrumental Learning,Learning, Instrumental,Operant Conditioning,Conditionings, Operant,Instrumental Learnings,Learnings, Instrumental,Operant Conditionings
D005712 Galvanic Skin Response A change in electrical resistance of the skin, occurring in emotion and in certain other conditions. Electric Conductance, Skin,Electrodermal Response,Reflex, Psychogalvanic,Skin Electric Conductance,Conductance, Skin Electric,Conductances, Skin Electric,Electric Conductances, Skin,Electrodermal Responses,Galvanic Skin Responses,Psychogalvanic Reflex,Response, Electrodermal,Response, Galvanic Skin,Responses, Electrodermal,Responses, Galvanic Skin,Skin Response, Galvanic,Skin Responses, Galvanic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000388 Air The mixture of gases present in the earth's atmosphere consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and small amounts of other gases.

Related Publications

H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
October 1962, Journal of experimental psychology,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
October 1966, Psychological reports,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
November 1968, Journal of experimental psychology,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
June 1962, Journal of experimental psychology,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
July 1962, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
November 1967, Journal of experimental psychology,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
February 1963, Journal of experimental psychology,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
February 1976, British journal of psychology (London, England : 1953),
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
September 1982, Physiology & behavior,
H D Kimmel, and F W Gurucharri
January 1975, Die Naturwissenschaften,
Copied contents to your clipboard!