Delayed CR in Classical GSR Conditioning

Abstract

2 conditioning groups received 3 trials with either a .5-sec. or a 20-sec. ISI, and then 40 trials with a 20-sec. ISI. 2 pseudoconditioning groups received the same number of CSs and UCSs in an unpaired order but differed according to whether CS duration on the first 3 trials was .6 sec. or 20.1 sec. GSR latency and magnitude were the dependent variables. Latency was greater and magnitude smaller in the pseudoconditioning than in the conditioning groups. There was little difference between the conditioning groups in either latency or magnitude. Furthermore, terminal CR latency in the conditioning groups was 4 to 5 sec., a value considerably shorter than what was expected on the basis of previous research. The data were discussed in terms of the kinds of inhibitory processes usually employed to explain such findings and also in terms of how inhibition explanations differ from “instrumental reinforcement” interpretations.