Interferenz zwischen verschiedenen Impulsen im Centralnervensystem

The effect of an extra stimulus upon strength of response during acquisition and extinction.

“…extinction of that response. This study was suggested partly by results from a similar study reported by Gagne and partly by consideration of the dynamogenic effects of extraneous stimuli which have been reported (5,10,13).…”

“…In considering these results, certain clinical observations and the reports that extraneous stimuli employed in distraction experiments sometimes facilitate rather than interfere with complex activities (5,10,13) led us to consider that something like so-called dynamogenic effects found there might possibly be demonstrable with rats on the elevated maze. If demonstrable, it would seem that an extraneous stimulus could be associated with opposite directions of change in the strength of a response even during acquisition.…”

Reflex modification in the domain of startle: II. The anomalous history of a robust and ubiquitous phenomenon.

“…Ernest R. Hilgard took on the task of examining this phenomenon for his doctoral dissertation. The resulting paper (Hilgard, 1933) reviewed the results of Yerkes and of Bowditch and Warren and pointed out their similarity to reflexive phenomena obtained in the decerebrate cat by Eccles and Sherrington (1931) and to the modification of voluntary behavior in humans, shown by Hofbauer (1897). In his own experiments Hilgard replicated the biphasic function of facilitation followed by inhibition.…”

Swimming speed of rats as a function of the presence or absence of sound.

“…Toward the end of last century Hofbauer (45) stated that the strength of an ergograph pull was increased immediately after the sound of a pistol shot; the increased contractions were shortly followed by weaker ones. Similarly, Fe"re" 6 and others 7 have reported that muscular contractions, measured by ergographs, dynamometers or plethysmographs are increased by simultaneous sensory stimulation.…”