Autonomic changes produced by noxious and innocuous stimulation.

Abstract

Skin conductance and beat-to-beat pulse rate were measured for 29 male Ss in a conditioning procedure using 8 tones, 8 shocks, 8 tone-shocks and 8 final tones. Basal conductance is elevated by shock and threat of shock; it shows rapid adaptation during the initial tone series but remains elevated during and after shock. GSR is initially large to the first shock but steadily diminishes. Sustained pulse rate is depressed by the first few presentations in each series but gradually returns to resting level. Local phases of deceleration immediately following stimulus onset occur in the initial tone series (subsequently adapting out), during the tone interval of the tone-shock series, and in the final tone series.