Autonomic Activity During Anticipation of An Aversive Tone in Noninstitutionalized Sociopaths

ABSTRACT Fifteen noninstitutionalized, compulsive‐gambler sociopaths and 15 controls were run in a modification of Hare's (1965b) gradient of fear paradigm. Both heart rate and bilateral skin conductance were averaged during 8 3‐sec intervals prior to the presentation of a 95dB tone. The controls showed both earlier and larger electrodermal anticipation of the tone than the sociopaths. For both groups of subjects, electrodermal anticipation of the tone began sooner and was larger in amplitude in the right hand than in the left hand. There were no significant heart rate differences between the two groups of subjects.