GSR conditioning and sensitization as a function of intertrial interval.

Abstract

2 levels of intertrial interval (40 sec. vs. 20 sec.) were investigated in a GSR conditioning situation, with controls for sensitization incorporated. The dependent variables reported were: base, magnitude, latency, and recruitment. The primary results in acquisition were: (a) the conditioning operations led to greater magnitude and recruitment than did the sensitization operations; (b) greater magnitude and recruitment were associated with spaced, as opposed to massed, practice; and (c) sensitization and conditioning operations were differentiated across trials by a decrease in magnitude in the sensitization groups rather than by an increase in the conditioning groups. The primary results in extinction were (a) the decrease in magnitude across extinction trials; (b) the longer latency of sensitized, as opposed to conditional, responses; and (c) the greater magnitude associated with spaced as opposed to massed practice.