The effect of context change on long-term habituation of the skin conductance response to signal and non-signal stimuli in humans.
The present experiment investigated the role of contextual cues in long-term habituation of the skin conductance response. Subjects (N = 65) first underwent a habituation training session in which they received 15 presentations each of a signal and a non-signal stimulus. Signal value was induced by a motor response requirement to stimulus offset. In a test session one week later, the effect of context change on long-term habituation was examined by presenting the habituation stimuli in either the same or in a changed context. Although both short-term (within-session) and long-term (between-session) habituation were demonstrated, the results provided no evidence for context-dependency of long-term habituation. Moreover, there was no evidence of differential long-term habituation as a function of signal value in either the same- or changed-context conditions. The data are discussed in terms of Wagner's (1978) priming theory, and the methodological implications of the experimental manipulations of context change and signal value induction are explored.
Schaafsma
M F
MF
School of Behavioural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia.
Packer
J S
JS
Siddle
D A
DA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal; D001245:Association Learning; D001288:Attention; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment