Dishabituation of the electrodermal orienting response following decay of sensitization. 1976

J A Edwards, and D A Siddle

This study tested one of the basic propositions of dual-process theory (Groves and Thompson, 1970) that 'dishabituation' results from an independent, superimposed process of excitation and not from disruption of the habituation process as proposed by Sokolov (1963). Skin conductance level (SCL) was employed as a measure of sensitization. On the basis of dual-process theory, it was hypothesized that if sensitization produced by the 'dishabituating' stimulus has decayed prior to re-presentation of the habituating stimulus, skin conductance response (SCR) amplitude to the habituating stimulus will not differ from that displayed by a control group which did not receive presentation of the 'dishabituating' stimulus. In experiment 1 (N = 10), subjects received 13 presentations of a 1000 Hz, 70 dB tone of 3 sec duration with interstimulus intervals of 40, 50 and 60 sec. Between trials 11 and 12, there was one presentation of a dishabituating (light) stimulus. Analysis of SCL indicated that an interval of 50 sec between trials 12 and 13 was sufficient to allow sensitization to decline to the pre-light level. The experimental conditions in experiment 2 (N = 32) were the same as in experiment 1 except that only half the subjects received presentation of the dishabituating stimulus. The results indicated that although there were no group differences in SCR amplitude on trials 1-11, experimental subjects displayed significantly larger responses on trial 13 than did control subjects. These results suggest that interpolation of a different stimulus in an habituation series does, in fact, disrupt the habituation process.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
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
D010775 Photic Stimulation Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity. Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
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
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)
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000161 Acoustic Stimulation Use of sound to elicit a response in the nervous system. Auditory Stimulation,Stimulation, Acoustic,Stimulation, Auditory
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
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

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