Caffeine-induced arousal modulates somatomotor and autonomic differential classical conditioning in humans

Two experiments (n = 48 and n = 45) investigated the effects of caffeine-induced arousal on differential classical conditioning of eyeblink (experiment 1) and autonomic (experiment 2) responses. Three groups of human subjects received double-blind administration of 0, 2, and 4 mg/kg oral caffeine (groups 0, 2, and 4, respectively). Twenty minutes after caffeine administration, a differential classical conditioning procedure was in effect. Physiological and subjective arousal was assessed by readings of blood pressure, skin conductance level, and a questionnaire, administered before caffeine administration, and after the conditioning procedure. The results showed increased indexes of physiological arousal in groups 2 and 4. In experiment 1, differential classical eyeblink conditioning was observed in groups 0 and 4, whereas no differential conditioning was seen in group 2. In experiment 2, differential classical conditioning was seen in group 0, whereas caffeine-induced arousal masked acquisition of conditioned skin conductance responses in group 4. This group displayed increased resistance to extinction compared to the other groups. Group 2, which had an intermediate level of arousal, did not display differential conditioning in either experiment. Taken together, the results indicate that small increases in arousal may be detrimental to learning, and larger increases in arousal may reverse this effect. Received: 10 March 1997/Final version: 13 June 1997