Biomaterial Database

Habituation of the orienting response as a function of arousal induced by three different tasks. 1978

W Hulstijn

In order to investigate the extent to which habituation rate is influenced by the level of arousal, three consecutive experiments with 24 subjects each were carried out, involving the manipulation of arousal by a different task in every experiment. In Experiment I this was done by pressing a dynamometer; in Experiment II by remembering words; and in Experiment III by the instruction to react as quickly as possible to barely noticeable stimuli, which in fact were not presented. Although in all experiments arousal was clearly increased, at least as measured by the number of spontaneous electrodermal responses (EDR) and as indicated by the level of either skin conductance, or heart rate or pulse volume, habituation of the EDR was delayed only in Experiment III. Experiment I however showed a faster habituation rate, at least of the EEG and pulse volume reactions. The results of Experiment III were replicated in Experiment IV with 27 subjects. It was concluded that habituation is not a function of arousal but possibly of a variable criterion for the 'signal value' of the stimulus.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008568	Memory	Complex mental function having four distinct phases: (1) memorizing or learning, (2) retention, (3) recall, and (4) recognition. Clinically, it is usually subdivided into immediate, recent, and remote memory.
D009048	Motor Skills	Performance of complex motor acts.	Motor Skill,Skill, Motor,Skills, Motor
D009949	Orientation	Awareness of oneself in relation to time, place and person.	Cognitive Orientation,Mental Orientation,Psychological Orientation,Cognitive Orientations,Mental Orientations,Orientation, Cognitive,Orientation, Mental,Orientation, Psychological,Orientations,Orientations, Cognitive,Orientations, Mental,Orientations, Psychological,Psychological Orientations
D011674	Pulse	The rhythmical expansion and contraction of an ARTERY produced by waves of pressure caused by the ejection of BLOOD from the left ventricle of the HEART as it contracts.	Pulses
D011930	Reaction Time	The time from the onset of a stimulus until a response is observed.	Response Latency,Response Speed,Response Time,Latency, Response,Reaction Times,Response Latencies,Response Times,Speed, Response,Speeds, Response
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
D005260	Female		Females
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
D006185	Habituation, Psychophysiologic	The disappearance of responsiveness to a repeated stimulation. It does not include drug habituation.	Habituation (Psychophysiology),Habituation, Psychophysiological,Psychophysiologic Habituation,Psychophysiological Habituation,Habituations (Psychophysiology)