Citation

Davis RC, Van Liere DW. J. Exp. Psychol. 1949; 39(1): 114-117.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1949, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0061223

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

"Adaptation of the muscular tension responses to very loud sounds was studied by measuring action potentials from both fore arms as subjects were stimulated by the firing of 32 caliber blanks at intervals of two min. The results obtained were: 1. There occurred an initial response (a-response) with a latency of about 0.1 sec. and a maximum at about 0.3 sec. and 60 to 90 microvolts in mean size. 2. There was a substantial, though much smaller tension increment in the 'b-response' period, 1.0 to 1.8 sec. after the stimulus, persisting at least to 7.5 sec. 3. For the a-response, adaptation for size is not significant; for duration, it is significant. 4. For the b-response the adaptation effect (for size) is significant for the right arm; it may be present, but small, for the left. 5. The results fit the hypothesis that large responses of this sort resist adaptation." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)