Electrodermal lability and recovery of habituated or

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between individual differences in non‐specific electrodermal responding and recovery of the electrodermal component of the orienting reaction (OR) with variation in an auditory stimulus. Following habituation to criterion, 50 male Ss were presented with either the habituating stimulus (1000 Hz) or a stimulus of 1350 Hz. Ss classified as “labiles” on the basis of high levels of non‐specific responding during a resting period prior to habituation showed significant increase in electrodermal response on the change trial over control level. For “stabiles”, Ss showing low levels of non‐specific responding, the difference between control and change trials was not significant. It is suggested that strength of inhibitory control within the electrodermal system modifies the effect of stimulus variation on recovery of the habituated electrodermal OR.