PHYSIOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF LEARNING AND OVERLEARNING.
Abstract
Two Experiments were conducted to investigate physiological activity associated with original learning and overlearning of verbal materials (nonsense syllables). In Experiment I, the physiological responses measured were heart rate (HR), palmar skin conductance (PSC), and galvanic skin response (GSR) during original learning, overlearning and new learning. In Experiment II, the same physiological responses were recorded but original learning was followed by two overlearning phases. The results showed that: (1) there were decreases in all of the physiological measures with overlearning, i.e., further practice with mastered materials; (2) there were increases in all of the measures with new learning; and (3) further decreases in physiological activity occurred with ''double overlearning'' (practice with mastered materials after the overlearning phase). It was concluded that the drop in physiological activity which occurred with overlearning was due to an habituation of the physiological responses with decreased novelty in the learning materials and a reduction in apprehensiveness as the experiment progressed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1966
- Accession Number
- AD0636397
Entities
People
- John L. Anderassi
- Patricia M. Whalen