Sensory magnitude estimation in the context of reflex modification

Previous investigations reveal that the human eyeblink elicited by a mechanically produced tap to the glabella can be inhibited if a mild acoustic stimulus is presented approximately 100 msec prior to the tap. When instructed to estimate the magnitude of the taps, 18 undergraduates consistently judg...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance 1981-12, Vol.7 (6), p.1363-1370
Main Authors: Cohen, Michelle E, Stitt, Christopher L, Hoffman, Howard S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Auditory Stimulation
Eyeblink Reflex
Human
Stimulus Intensity
Tactual Stimulation
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Summary:Previous investigations reveal that the human eyeblink elicited by a mechanically produced tap to the glabella can be inhibited if a mild acoustic stimulus is presented approximately 100 msec prior to the tap. When instructed to estimate the magnitude of the taps, 18 undergraduates consistently judged taps preceded by a reflex-modifying acoustic signal as less intense than the same taps with no prior acoustic signal. Exp II with 18 college students replicated this effect and indicated that the perceptual gating afforded by a reflex-modifying stimulus was independent of the blink response to that stimulus. Findings point to a perceptual modification phenomenon that may prove useful in the management of the perceptual consequence of various otherwise noxious events. (15 ref)
ISSN:0096-1523
1939-1277
DOI:10.1037/0096-1523.7.6.1363