Arousal and learning, and noncontingency detection in one-year-old infants

The relationship between arousal and learning was studied with 6 infants 1 yr. of age on a two-choice discrimination learning task. The behavioral indices of arousal (activity level) and learning (response rate and reinforcements) correlated significantly (r, .44). Affective state correlated positively with activity level (r, .47) during the learning phase of the experiment. Two control conditions were presented following the learning phase of the experiment. Noncontingent (response independent) reinforcement produced significantly faster response deceleration than nonreinforcement. Affective response did not differ between nonreinforcement and noncontingent reinforcement conditions.