Dishabituation Lecture Flashcards

A set of vocabulary flashcards focusing on the concept of dishabituation, its requirements, and its relevance to the MCAT exam based on lecture notes.

Dishabituation (Dehabituation)

A phenomenon that occurs when someone who has gotten used to a stimulus experiences a somewhat similar but distinct sharp stimulus that makes them more conscious of the first stimulus they were habituated to.

Habituation Requirement

The specific condition that must have already occurred before dishabituation can take place.

Effect of Dishabituation on Response

Despite its name, this process actually increases the response to the original stimulus.

AAMC

The makers of the MCAT whom the transcript refers to as quote-unquote overlords who include the topic of dishabituation often in their practice materials.

Evolutionary Explanation for Dishabituation

The theory that we need to notice new stimuli because their presence might mean an original stimulus is more important than we thought and that we shouldn't become too habituated to it.

Constant Bell Chime Example

In an experimental excerpt, a stimulus to which Subject A habituated before a sharp ringing at the $2$-minute mark caused a significant reduction in task performance via dishabituation.