Stimulus–stimulus interactions and the habituation of neophobia

Abstract Findings and theoretical views regarding the effects of nontarget stimulus presentations on the habituation of neophobia to a target stimulus are discussed. These findings include the effects of a distractor stimulus on the habituation of neophobia, the role of similarity and dissimilarity of the two stimuli on habituation, the role of associations or conditioning involving the two stimuli and the influence of retention intervals on such effects. The discussion illustrates potentially valuable ways that events can influence each other during preexposure, especially those that can occur during exposure to a novel flavor. The discussion also points out various processes that may occur during the habituation of neophobia.