Effects of interstimulus interval length and variability on habituation of autonomic components of the orienting response.

Abstract

The effects of interstimulus interval (ISI) length and variability on habituation of heart-rate and electrodermal components of the orienting response were investigated in an experiment employing 56 male undergraduates. Results indicate that shorter ISI lengths were associated with greater habituation of heart-rate and skin-conductance responses. The ISI variability did not significantly affect habituation. In the statistical analysis of these data, 2 commonly used skin conductance transformation measures were compared and yielded comparable results. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)