Galvanic Skin Response During Avoidance Learning

ABSTRACT Relations between galvanic skin response (GSR) and other variables during learning of a shock‐avoidance task were observed. S s operated a four‐position switch as cued by visual stimuli: one always shocked, one never shocked, and two associated with switch positions which avoided the shock. Forty‐eight S s formed successive subgroups which exhibited: (1) progressively better avoidance learning with increased awareness instruction and (2) significantly decreased GSR when the correct avoidance had been learned. Analyses were made to differentiate autonomic responding due to reinforcement (i.e. number of shocks received) from that due to expectancy (anticipation of avoidance).