U02D1 Habituation and Exposure Therapy-Brown

U02D1-Habituation and Exposure Therapy-Brown

Hello Everyone,

After learning this much about habituation, I have concluded that it is a learned response. According to researchers, habituation is a simple form of learning (Terry, 2009). Habituation occurs when an organism learns something about a single stimulus that creates an investigatory reflex (Terry, 2009). Researchers discovered that habituation occurs among the lowest forms of life, such as snails, can exhibit this form of learning (Terry, 2009). The organism searches to identify the source of the stimulation that could be important for its survival (Terry, 2009). If it found to be a matter of life or death the organism’s fight or flight response will be triggered (Terry, 2009). Researchers have many different methods and theories to study habituation.

According to Terry (2009) the orienting response (OR) produces increased blood flow to the brain, vasoconstriction, and vasodilation which can be measured with electrodes placed on the forehead. One widely used method of habituation used by neuroscience researchers is novelty recognition. Novelty recognition is one method used by researchers to assess how brain lesions, genetic alterations, new drugs, and environmental manipulations might affect memory (Terry, 2009). This can occur because a stimulus is introduced which can produce an OR that the organism stores in its memory.

Therefore, when the stimulus reappears the organism will respond accordingly, to respond or not or sensitization (dual process theory) is described as an increased responsiveness to repeated stimulation (Terry, 2009). In my opinion, it (habituation) is the body’s way of responding to any given stimulus. According to Terry (2009) example of the shirt versus the spider analogy (Pg. 34). Once one noticed the tingle on the arm was made from their sleeve, rubbing against it the act became habituated. However, if a spider made the tingle sensitization will occur and one will overreact to...