Response bias factors and the sensoristatic model of sensory restriction.

Considers that the sensoristatic model of sensory restriction claims sensory isolation lowers sensory thresholds. Evidence for this claim rests on traditional psychophysical procedures which according to signal detection (TSD) theory may confound pure sensory shifts with motivational factors. A TSD analysis of 1 type of sensory restriction procedure, isolation of a circumscribed area of the skin, revealed that in 9 adult males heightened sensitivity on a cutaneous discrimination task was due primarily to sensory factors. Response bias factors were not a significant source of variance. Results offer further support of the sensoristatic model of sensory restriction. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)