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Eight hypotheses derived from Sokolov's theory of habituation of the orienting response were tested. Subjects were given a series of 36 standard stimuli (SSs). each 500 cps. Four interpolations of a 1000‐cps test stimulus (TS) for one group (N = 10) and of a 4000‐cps TS for another group (N = 10) were made. Results for amplitude of galvanic skin response (GSR) for combined groups showed that habituation occurred over the first eight SSs and over the four TSs, that a TS produced return of GSR and disrupted habituation to the SS, and that response was greater to the TS than to the following SS. The 4000 TS disrupted habituation to the SS more than the 1000 TS and produced less drop from the TS to the next SS. Seven hypotheses were confirmed. Habituation of resistance level was found but spontaneous fluctuations were not. Sokolov's theory and the results obtained were related to the classical conditioning of autonomic processes.

The effects of stimulus order and novelty upon habituation and dishabituation of the GSR component of the OR were investigated. The numbers 21 to 60 were presented in serial order (Ordered-Novel group), and in random order (Random-Novel group), and the number 21 was repeated 40 times (Similar group). The number 600 was occasionally interpolated among each series. No group differences in magnitude of OR to the first stimulus or in habituation of the OR during the series of numbers were found. Dishabituation due to the interpolated stimulus was found primarily in the Similar group. The results were related to Sokolov's concept of neuronal models used in his theory of habituation.