| Abstract: | ![]()
This experiment was designed with stimulus parameters deliberately chosen to maximize the probability of observing habituation of the orienting response (OR) in sleep: weak stimulus, short interstimulas interval. with test for both dishabituation and spontaneous recovery, Habituation of finger plethysmograph. heart rate, skin potential. and skin resistance responses was studied in delta sleep and RKM sleep in 46 male undergraduate volunteers. There was significant habituation of both finger plethysmograph and heart rate responses in both delta and REM sleep, as well as dishabituation and spontaneous recovery. None of these effects was observed in the electrodermal measures. Results were compared with other studies of habituation of the OR in sleep, as well as theories of habituation. The authors do not interpret the results as demonstrating learning during steep. |
