Orienting Reflex and Uncertainty Reduction in a Concept-Learning Task

Abstract

In several studies differences in information processing activities during a concept-identification task were found to be accompanied by changes in the skin conductance response (SCR) (De Swart & Das-Smaal, 1976, 1979; Pishkin & Shurley, 1968; Pishkin & Wolfgang, 1964; Zimmermann, 1971). De Swart & Das-Smaal (1976, 1979) argued that these differences in SCR could be attributed primarily to changes in confidence in the hypothesis under test and concluded that Sokolov's model of the OR was supported. The present study aimed to test more directly the hypothesis that changes in confidence in the selected hypothesis are reflected in the change in autonomic activity, measured by SCR.