Differential SCR Conditioning With Two Control Baselines: Random Signal and Signal Absent

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thirty‐six S s, informed about the contingencies, were given differential SCR training with 3 different signals: CS+, CS−, and a signal which was random with respect to UCS occurrence. UCSs occurred randomly between trials and during random signal trials, were correlated with CS+ presence, and were absent during CS−. Employing nonspecific response frequency and amplitude, as well as responding during random signal trials, as baselines for comparison, evidence for both inhibitory and excitatory influences was obtained. The pattern of these influences was such as to question the proposition that a CS+ acquires general excitatory properties and a CS− acquires general inhibitory properties.