A context-specific latent inhibition effect in a human conditioned suppression task.
Three studies used a computer video game preparation to demonstrate latent inhibition in adult humans. In all studies participants fired torpedoes at a target spaceship by clicking the mouse. Conditioned stimuli (CSs) were presented in the form of coloured "sensors" at the bottom of the screen. Conditioning was conducted by pairing a sensor with an attack from the target spaceship. Participants learned to suppress their rate of mouse clicking in preparation for an attack. In Experiment 1 a total of 10 preexposures to the sensor CS, prior to conditioning, retarded acquisition of suppression. In Experiment 2 the effect of preexposure was shown to be context specific. Experiment 3 showed little generalization of the preexposure effect from one sensor CS to another. Experiment 3 also showed that preexposure did not make the sensor CS inhibitory. Comparisons with conditioned suppression procedures with animals and negative-priming procedures are briefly discussed.
Byron Nelson
James
J
Psychology Department, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC 29424, USA. nelsonj@cofc.edu
del Carmen Sanjuan
Maria
M
D000328:Adult; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D018910:Video Games