'Alpha' conditioning in the eyelid.

Abstract

"Alpha" conditioning of the eyelid reflex to light was demonstrated using a puff of air to the cornea as the unconditioned stimulus. The reflex sensitization appeared as a greater frequency of light reflexes in an exptl. group (receiving light-puff combined stimulation) than in a control group (receiving light stimulation alone). The control group was necessary because reflex adaptation ordinarily obscures the reflex sensitization. The demonstration of a conditioning shows that in the eyelid response system conditioning is of sufficiently widespread character to alter primary reflexes of the system.