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Reaction time task as unconditional stimulus. Comparing aversive and nonaversive unconditional stimuli
The Pavlovian Journal of Biological Science
|April 1, 1990
Summary
A new reaction time task with feedback serves as an effective nonaversive stimulus in classical conditioning, matching aversive shock effectiveness without causing deficits in electrodermal responses.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Nonaversive unconditioned stimuli (USs) are rarely used in human classical conditioning due to potential deficits in electrodermal (ED) responses.
- A reaction time (RT) task with success feedback has been identified as a nonaversive US that avoids these disadvantages.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare a new RT task (RT-new) with a traditional RT task (RT-old) and aversive shock (US) in differential classical conditioning.
- To assess conditioning of electrodermal (ED), heart rate (HR), and digital pulse volume (DPV) responses.
Main Methods:
- Eight-second-delay differential conditioning was used with three groups (n=12 each).
- Conditional stimuli (CS+ and CS-) were geometric shapes on a screen.
- Responses measured included ED, HR, and DPV.
Main Results:
- Differential conditioning occurred in HR, first- and second-interval ED, and first-interval DPV across groups.
- The RT-old group showed no second-interval ED conditioning.
- During extinction, HR and first-interval ED conditioned, but DPV and second-interval ED did not.
- The RT-new group maintained response differentiation during extinction, unlike RT-old and shock groups.
Conclusions:
- The RT task with feedback is a reliable nonaversive US, comparable to aversive shock.
- Traditional RT tasks may still present weaknesses in second-interval ED conditioning.