Citation

Dodge R. J. Exp. Psychol. 1923; 6(1): 1-35.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1923, American Psychological Association)

DOI

10.1037/h0076063

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Reports experiments undertaken by Dodge to study the theoretical and practical aspects of adaptation to repeated vestibular stimulation.The revolving platform on which O sat during rotation was set in motion. Onset of rotation by this device was never perceptible to O. Motion was sensed only after the platform had moved through a considerable angle. While the platform was yet accelerating, the subject reported that the platform was coming to rest. This illusion was reported by all but one of more than twenty-five Ss. The illusion of reversed rotation gradually disappeared before the platform reached its maximum velocity. Six to ten seconds after the apparatus stopped, most subjects reported an illusion of a positive after-image of rotation and some reported an illusion of negative after-image of rotation. Suggests to postulate some central factor of compensation which tends to cut across or inhibit the normal conscious accompaniments of external stimulation, to account for these illusions .To study the effects of repetition of rotation, the technique for recording compensatory eye-movements from closed eyelids was used. The graphic summaries revealed the presence of the phenomenon of habituation. Introspective data revealed the progressive development of subjective indifference to rotation during the training period. Additional data from six O's on the training of compensatory eye-reflexes, derived from experiments on adaptation to oscillation, showed the progressive influence of habituation. Concludes that the similarity of behavior between the phenomena of habituation on the reflex level and the phenomena of the learning process suggests the possibility of some fundamental neural factor identical to both spheres. From Psych Bulletin 20:06:00499. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)