Skin conductance and reaction time correlates of learning disability in children

Skin conductances and galvanic skin responses (GSRs) of learning disabled (LD) children and controls were compared during an habituation task and a simple reaction time task, each preceded by a rest period. The two tasks were methodologically equivalent except that only the latter required an active response. LDs had more rapid decline of basal conductances during rest, more rapid habituation of GSRs during tasks, and slower reaction times. In addition, the active task was more sensitive to GSR habituation differences than was the passive task. The results were interpreted in terms of a general arousal deficit in LD children, although the greater sensitivity of the active task in detecting habituation differences was seen as supporting the proposal that LDs have selective arousal dysfunctions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Department dc:contributor.department

Psychology

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1974

Author dc:creator

• Rosenthal, Ronald H.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/54853

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/54853