Allocation of Attention: Effects on Classical Conditioning

• Main Author: Michel, Sergio B. (Sergio Barboza)
• Other Authors: Peek, Leon A.
• Format: Others
• Language: English
• Published: North Texas State University 1984
• Subjects: meditation; classical conditioning; attention span; Attention.; Classical conditioning.
• Online Access: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331969/

According to Deikman (1966), meditation (defined as a training to sustain attention) has a deautomatizing effect. This ascertion was utilized in the present study as a departure point and explored within an information processing framework for classical conditioning. A sample of 48 college students was selected and randomly assigned to four conditions with different instructional sets involving allocation of attention during a classical conditioning background situation. The basic hypothesis of the study was that provided arousal factors were controlled, focusing of attention upon internal stimulation (i.e. breathing) could delay or attenuate the affect of conditioning, habituation and extinction as compared with instructions to externally allocate attention (on the CS and US). A secondary hypothesis predicted that for subjects under switching conditions changing from internal to external allocation and vice versa would produce a more pronounced extinction pattern as compared with subjects under non—switching conditions.