Effects of stimulus change on the electrodermal orienting response

This experiment (N = 48) examined recovery of the skin conductance response, following habituation training, to change in type of visual stimulus. Maher and Furedy (1979) have argued that the majority of such studies have not controlled for time, trial, or stimulus-specific effects. These variables were controlled in the present study by using no-change control groups and by counterbalancing training and test stimuli. Experimental groups received either shapes during training and a letter on the test trial (trial 41) or letters during draining and a shape on the test trial; control groups received either shapes or letters for 41 trials. Test trial response magnitude was larger in experimental than control groups, and the effect was independent of the nature of the test stimulus. In addition, responsiveness increased from the last block of training trials to the test trial for experimental groups, but not for control groups. These results demonstrate recovery of the skin conductance response to change per se.