Sensitization

Sensitization (English: sensitization ) refers to the increase of the strength of a reaction with repeated presentation of the same stimulus. The opposite process, a decrease in response strength is the habituation.

Sensitization was shown in a series of laboratory tests. For example, show cats with repeated, rapid presentation of a short electric shock at one of its extremities an increasingly stronger motor response.

Sensitization has several features:

I) Short duration: The sensitization of a reaction is usually of short duration. In most cases you only need a time interval of several seconds between stimulus presentations to the Sensitivierungseffekt (ie an increasing strength ) to revoke the reaction.

II) Irritation and Reaktionsunspezifizität: In contrast to the habituation of sensitization is unattractive specific. If the response to a stimulus sensitized, so also occur reactions to other stimuli in amplified form in the rule. From this it is concluded that the increase in sensitization of a general arousal (English: arousal ) causes the organism. This general level of arousal is a property of a postulated system state (state system). Sensitization to a stimulus causes a change in state of this system, and results in a generally upper readiness of the organism to stimuli, show increased responses. Evidence for this state- system theory was found in an experiment with rats (M. Davis 1974): This was divided into two groups. The first group was in a cage with a rather quiet (60 dB) background noise. You were repeated performed very loud sounds. These tones initially led to a strong reaction ( startle reflex: a short leap into the air ), which decreased with repeated stimulus presentation. The reaction of this group habituated so. The second group was offered is the same loud sounds, but there was the same in their attempt to cage a louder (80 dB) background noise. In this group, we observed an increase in the response to the loud sound with repeated stimulus presentation - ie sensitization. This leads you to the fact that the rat with the loud background noise showed a generally increased level of excitation and sensitized their response to the tone therefore. Thus, this result can be combined with the state- system theory.

  • General Psychology
  • Neurophysiology
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