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Operant verbal conditioning of autonomic responses∗

1968; Elsevier BV; Volume: 6; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0005-7967(68)90069-7

1873-622X

James C. Ascogh, Carl N. Sipprelle,

Behavioral Health and Interventions

Operant control of autonomic responses, without the mediation of voluntary responses is a controversial issue related to the theoretical base of current behavior modification techniques. To demonstrate such control, five Ss were verbally reinforced for spontaneous decreases in heart rate, five for spontaneous increases in heart rate, and rive non-contingent upon heart rate changes. The increase and decrease groups changed significantly in the expected directions above and below the non-contingent group. Experimental and statistical control of respiration, movement, GSR, and ideation led to the conclusion that significant increases and decreases in heart rate can be brought under direct verbal, operant control. These results support the hypothesis that certain behavior modification techniques, including that of Sipprelle, may accomplish behavior modification by directly influencing autonomic responses constituting anxiety.