ABSTRACT
Three experiments, investigating cortical and visceral responding during a two-stimulus anticipation paradigm, are discussed. In each experiment, subjects received auditory warning stimuli signaling the presentation of either high or low interest color slides at the end of a six-second foreperiod. Slide duration, subject control of exposure time, and a reaction time (RT) requirement served as independent variables during the experimental series. Results of the present investigations revealed that both cortical and visceral response systems may reflect the degree of “anticipated interest.” Specific expression of this variable, however, may be largely determined by the context in which it occurs. A discussion of motor expression and its modulation of physiological responding is presented.
