Skin conductance and reaction time correlates of learning disability in children

Abstract

Skin conductances and galvanic skin responses (GSRs) of learning disabled (LD) children and controls were compared during an habituation task and a simple reaction time task, each preceded by a rest period. The two tasks were methodologically equivalent except that only the latter required an active response. LDs had more rapid decline of basal conductances during rest, more rapid habituation of GSRs during tasks, and slower reaction times. In addition, the active task was more sensitive to GSR habituation differences than was the passive task. The results were interpreted in terms of a general arousal deficit in LD children, although the greater sensitivity of the active task in detecting habituation differences was seen as supporting the proposal that LDs have selective arousal dysfunctions.