Which of the following is a potential problem associated with short intertrial intervals during stress experiments?

• A. Short intertrial intervals guarantee more accurate physiological measurements.
• B. Participants are less likely to experience any stress response.
• C. Participants may not have enough time to recover between stressors, leading to cumulative stress effects.
• D. Short intertrial intervals always improve memory consolidation.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of intertrial intervals (ITIs) in stress experiments: ITIs refer to the amount of time between consecutive stress-inducing trials or stimuli.
2. Recognize that short ITIs mean there is little time between stress exposures, which can affect how participants physiologically and psychologically respond to stress.
3. Consider the physiological recovery process: after a stressor, the body needs time to return to baseline levels (e.g., heart rate, cortisol levels). Short ITIs may not allow sufficient recovery.
4. Analyze the potential consequence of insufficient recovery: cumulative stress effects can build up, meaning stress responses from one trial carry over to the next, potentially confounding results.
5. Conclude that the main problem with short ITIs is that participants may not fully recover between stressors, leading to overlapping stress responses rather than isolated reactions to each trial.