Physiologic Discrimination and Behavioral Relationships in Human Instrumental Conditioning

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Abstract
Thirty-three human subjects were exposed to a discrimination instrumental-conditioning design in which the response was a punch-avoidance. The patterns of behavior associated with vague instructions were observed, as were the GSR [Galvanic Skin Response] and heart-rate changes accompanying the different behavioral responses. It was found that GSR discrimination occurred prior to avoidance learning, whereas heart-rate discrimination occurred only with avoidance itself. Some implications of the relationships between the physiologic changes and acquired motor behavior are discussed with regard to the production of hypertensive cardiovascular disease.