Dishabituation

Dishabituation is the restoration of a response to a stimulus that has been weakened by habituation. It occurs when a new, often intense, stimulus is presented, causing a temporary or, sometimes, lasting return of responsiveness to the original stimulus. This is distinct from sensitization, where response increases to the stimulus, or classical conditioning where the stimulus is paired to another stimulus. The process provides insight into how our brains filter out irrelevant information and how they re-engage when something significant or novel appears. It can occur in any type of stimulus including sound, visual and tactile sensations.

Dishabituation meaning with examples

• Initially, the loud construction noise outside Maria's apartment habituated, causing her to barely notice it. However, a sudden, different sound of a jackhammer caused dishabituation to occur. Maria once again became aware of the original sounds from the construction site, causing her to find them distracting and annoying. This event caused her to reconsider moving again.
• A baby becomes habituated to the consistent background humming of a refrigerator. When the refrigerator suddenly makes a new, irregular noise, the baby becomes dishabituated and looks toward the refrigerator. This renewed attention reveals that the baby’s nervous system is capable of adjusting to changes and shifts in their surroundings. This provides some sense of comfort to the mother.
• A person who lives in a city becomes habituated to the constant sounds of traffic. If a fire engine siren blares nearby, dishabituation occurs, causing a temporary increase in awareness of the familiar traffic sounds. The person now registers the sounds of traffic that he was once previously tuned out, due to the novelty of the siren which triggered a temporary increase in alertness. The firemen drove on.
• An artist who works in a studio becomes habituated to the smell of paint. When a visitor brings in a strong-smelling food item, the artist experiences dishabituation, momentarily re-experiencing awareness of the paint fumes. This causes a temporary break from work, as the artist processes the new and powerful sensory information. This process often occurs for artists when working.
• A student becomes habituated to the feeling of wearing glasses. When they experience a brief, sharp pain, a sudden sensation they haven't felt before, they become dishabituated, becoming aware once again of the pressure of their glasses on their nose. The pain is brief, but the rediscovery of awareness is a brief instance of dishabituation. This provides insights into how our sense of self relates to the body.