Adaptation of the galvanic response to auditory stimuli.

Abstract

By repeated presentations of the same auditory stimulus and different auditory stimuli, galvanic response decrement was secured and studied in its relation to startle and affectivity ratings and the time interval between stimuli. Galvanic adaptation takes place more rapidly with a fifteen second interval between stimuli than with a thirty second interval, but the adaptation has no significant transfer effect on the remaining stimuli all given at thirty second intervals. A relationship is established between the mean startle rating of a stimulus, its mean deflection, and its absolute response decrement. A relationship is established also between the relative mean startle decrement of a stimulus and the relative response decrement. With the position factor held constant, the magnitude of the galvanic deflections to auditory stimuli bears a linear relationship to the mean startle rating and perhaps also to the mean affectivity rating. Changes in resistance level appear to be unrelated to galvanic response decrement. Evidence is offered that galvanic adaptation to auditory stimuli is in part general and in part specific to the stimulus. An hypothesis is presented as to the nature of the factors underlying transfer of adaptation.