Orienting reactions, expectancy learning, and conditioned responses in electrodermal conditioning with different interstimulus intervals

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the processes of orienting, expectancy learning, and CR acquisition in GSR conditioning with interstimulus intervals of 0.5, 4.0 and 8.0 sec. By comparing groups of subjects given CS and UCS paired (conditioning) with groups given CS paired with a non-aversive stimulus (expectancy learning), the effect of CR acquisition should be observable, and by comparing the expectancy learning groups with groups given unpaired stimulus presentations (orienting), it should be possible to assess the effect of expectancy. The results supported the operation of orienting and CR acquisition processes at all interstimulus intervals studied. For the expectancy learning process, there seemed to be a distinction between a component reflecting the learning of the stimulus contingency, which was observable at all interstimulus intervals, and an anticipatory component, that could be observed in the conditioning groups at the two longer intervals.

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