Electrodermal System Research Articles

Attention and verbalization: Differential responsivity of cardiovascular and electrodermal systems

A recent study showed, (1) that changes in heart rate (HR) were indicators of a subject's attention: acceleratory HR corresponding to environmental rejection (thinking) and deceleratory HR to environmental intake; and (2) that skin conductance (SC) increased in both rejection and intake situations. These results were challenged by several authors who failed to find differential GSR and HR responding and who found some evidence to suggest that HR acceleration was an artifact of verbalization. In order to clarify these contradictory findings, the present study used constant stimuli for intake, rejection and verbalization conditions since the previous designs were confounded by the use of different stimuli for the various manipulations. GSR and HR were recorded from 48 male Ss who observed slides under four conditions: (1) looking at (INV: intake-no verbalization); (2) reading aloud (IV: intake-verbalization; (3) adding silently (RNV: rejection-verbalization); and (4) adding aloud (RV: rejection-verbalization). Each slide was presented for fifteen seconds and consisted of thirteen numbers arranged to elicit interest. The 48 Ss were divided into four groups of twelve with a Latin Square design utilized for presenting the four conditions (4 slides per condition) in four different orders. The analysis of the data showed that for both the SC and HR variables, responsivity differed among the four conditions. For the HR data, (1) the RV and IV conditions resulted in acceleratory changes with the RV change being greater; (2) the RNV condition resulted in virtually no change; and (3) the INV heart rate was deceleratory. The means for the amount of SC change and base HR paralleled those of the HR change with the RV condition demonstrating the greatest amount of change in SC and highest base HR, and the INV condition the smallest change in SC and the lowest base HR. Correlations among the HR changes scores across conditions showed that the changes for the INV conditions were independent of the changes for the other three conditions which were related to each other. Results of the study suggested (1) that HR changes are a function of an interaction between verbalization and attention, (2) that a modified concept of general arousal theory which posits separate arousal continuums for either situations resulting in HR acceleration or situations resulting in HR deceleration may explain previous contradictory findings and (3) that it may be profitable to classify Ss into categories of HR accelarators and HR decelerators.

Effect of aversive stimulation and early handling on skin conductance defecation, and activity in Mus musculus

Presentation of an aversive stimulus (sight of E) always elicited an increase in skin conductance and defecation, but the locomotor response was a decrease early in testing and an increase later on. Early handling abolished each component of the response pattern. These results suggest control of the electrodermal system by a mechanism that regulates emotional defecation and agonistic locomotor responding. Autonomic responses occur whenever this mechanism is aroused, but the locomotor response that follows depends upon cues that are present and S’s previous experience with them.

Modification of skin mechanical properties by eccrine sweat gland activity.

ArticleModification of skin mechanical properties by eccrine sweat gland activity.T Adams, and W S HunterT Adams, and W S HunterPublished Online:01 Apr 1969https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1969.26.4.417MoreSectionsPDF (723 KB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInWeChat Previous Back to Top Next Download PDF FiguresReferencesRelatedInformation Cited ByAnatomy of the sense of touch in sea otters: Cutaneous mechanoreceptors and structural features of glabrous skin23 August 2021 | The Anatomical Record, Vol. 305, No. 3The Body and the Brain: Measuring Skin Conductance Responses to Understand the Emotional Experience8 December 2016 | Organizational Research Methods, Vol. 22, No. 1Heat Stress17 August 2012Principles of Electrodermal Phenomena22 September 2011Fingertip Moisture Is Optimally Modulated During Object ManipulationT. André, P. Lefèvre, and J-L. Thonnard1 January 2010 | Journal of Neurophysiology, Vol. 103, No. 1Heat Stress16 April 2001Neural Control of Electrodermal Activity: Spinal and Reticular MechanismsInvestigations on the biomechanical significance of dermatoglyphic ridgesEvolutionary origins of the mammary glandMammal Review, Vol. 21, No. 2Histochemical aspects of stratum corneum function in the feline foot padArchives of Dermatological Research, Vol. 281, No. 8Is Mediation of Sweating Cholinergic, Adrenergic, or Both? A Comment on the LiteraturePsychophysiology, Vol. 24, No. 3Epidermal water and electrolyte content and the thermal, electrical and mechanical properties of skinLateralization in the Electrodermal System as a Function of Cognitive/Hemispheric ManipulationsPsychophysiology, Vol. 16, No. 2NEUROENDOCRINE CONTROL OF SWEAT GLANDSJournal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol. 69, No. 1Neural and Humoral Control of Apocrine GlandsJournal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol. 63, No. 1Electrodermal Recovery Rate, Goal-Orientation, and AversionPsychophysiology, Vol. 9, No. 5CARNIVORESTransepidermal Water Loss of Human NewbornsJournal of Investigative Dermatology, Vol. 54, No. 6 More from this issue > Volume 26Issue 4April 1969Pages 417-9 https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1969.26.4.417PubMed5775326History Published online 1 April 1969 Published in print 1 April 1969 Metrics

Brain-stem inhibition of electrodermal (galvanic skin) activity

Spontaneous and evoked electrodermal potentials were recorded from the footpads of cats subjected to vagotomy, midmesencephalic decerebration, and serial transections of the central neuraxis from the intercollicular level to the uppermost cervical spinal segments. Eight animals were decerebellated while in the midmesencephalic condition. Electrodermal activity was profoundly depressed by midmesencephalic decerebration. Subsequent decerebellation and transections through the caudal half of the mesencephalon and the rostral third of the pons produced little alteration. However, serial transections through the middle and caudal thirds of the pons progressively enhanced electrodermal activity. Further augmentation was obtained following transection of the spinal cord. These data indicate that the brain stem contains an extensive electrodermal inhibitory system consisting of pontile and medullary components. Maximal suppression of electrodermal activity in the midmesencephalic animal requires the integrity of both components of this system. Distinguishing characteristics between the brain-stem electrodermal inhibitory system and the somatic reticular inhibitory system are discussed.