The effects of temporal variables on the acquisition of human avoidance behavior

Abstract

Human Ss were given avoidance training employing a blast of pressurized air directly behind the ear as the noxious stimulus, a button depression as the avoidance response, and a light as the warning signal. In this experiment, signal duration and trace interval were factorially manipulated in a manner that also permitted interstimulus interval comparisons. The most striking effect of these temporal variables was on avoidance latency, where longer latencies were associated with longer ISIs. Resistance to extinction appeared quite strong, and the suddenness of conditioning resembled all-or-none learning. The similarity of these results to previous findings and their significance were discussed.