Abstract
The performance of hyperactive and control children was compared on a delayed reaction time task under three reinforcement conditions: reward, punishment, and reward plus punishment. Hyperactives had slower and more variable reaction times, suggesting an attentional deficit. Although each of the three reinforcement conditions was successful in improving reaction times for both subject groups, reward led to a significant increase in impulsive responses in the hyperactive children. Autonomic data revealed that reward also increased arousal to a greater extent than punishment or reward plus punishment. Although resting skin conductance was not different in the two groups of subjects, hyperactives produced fewer specific autonomic responses to signal stimuli.
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This study was conducted in partial fulfillment of the Ph.D. while the first author was at McGill University. The research was supported by Canada Council grant number S72-1389 to Dr. V. I. Douglas, and by a grant from the Social Science Research Fund, McGill University (No. 943-03-69).
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Firestone, P., Douglas, V. The effects of reward and punishment on reaction times and autonomic activity in hyperactive and normal children. J Abnorm Child Psychol 3, 201–216 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916751
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916751