Abstract
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We examined putative central nervous system (CNS) indices of tonic and phasic aspects of the orienting reflex (OR) in a passive event-related
potential (ERP) dishabituation paradigm. Pre-stimulus skin conductance level (SCL) and the subsequent skin conductance response (SCR) were
used as tonic and phasic OR ÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂyard-sticksÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ, respectively. Their stimulusÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂresponse patterns were used to assess two ERP components: the tonic prestimulus
contingent negative variation (CNV) and the subsequent phasic late positive complex (LPC). SCLs and SCRs derived from each trial of
the first train presented were compatible with traditional OR studies. Across-train means were also derived for each of the four measures examined.
Arousal changes, as indexed by the SCL, were weak in the CNV which showed an additional expectancy effect. The LPC showed a stimulusÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂâÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂÃÂ
response pattern across trials identical to that of the SCR. This study clarifies links between the traditional autonomic measures of the indifferent
OR and its CNS correlates, and encourages an OR perspective and/or interpretation of ERP effects.