Biomaterial Database

Blocking and unconditioned response diminution in human classical autonomic conditioning. 1991

H D Kimmel, and M J Bevill

Dept. of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa 33620.

This paper summarizes the results of three experiments on blocking and unconditioned response diminution in human SCR conditioning. Recent theories of conditioning propose that reduced processing of the unconditioned stimulus due to conditioning results in reduced unconditioned response magnitude and in blocking of conditioning of a second conditioned stimulus when it is in compound with the previously conditioned stimulus. In these experiments, clear evidence of diminution of the unconditioned response was obtained in all three studies, but blocking was found only in the third study, which employed a within-subject design and in which the blocking was observed only after at least one extinction trial on both the blocked and nonblocked stimuli. Order of testing was not a factor in this delayed blocking effect. These results do not support the view that blocking occurs because of reduced processing of the unconditioned stimulus in the unconditioned response diminution sense.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D003214	Conditioning, Classical	Learning that takes place when a conditioned stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus.	Reflex, Conditioned,Classical Conditioning,Classical Conditionings,Conditioned Reflex,Conditionings, Classical
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
D005795	Generalization, Stimulus	The tendency to react to stimuli that are different from, but somewhat similar to, the stimulus used as a conditioned stimulus.	Generalizations, Stimulus,Stimulus Generalization,Stimulus Generalizations
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001143	Arousal	Cortical vigilance or readiness of tone, presumed to be in response to sensory stimulation via the reticular activating system.	Vigilance, Cortical,Arousals,Cortical Vigilance
D001245	Association Learning	The principle that items experienced together enter into a connection, so that one tends to reinstate the other.	Association Learnings,Learning, Association,Learnings, Association
D001288	Attention	Focusing on certain aspects of current experience to the exclusion of others. It is the act of heeding or taking notice or concentrating.	Focus of Attention,Selective Attention,Social Attention,Attention Focus,Attention, Selective,Attention, Social,Selective Attentions