Electrodermal response

Electrodermal response (EDR), also known as Galvanic skin response (GSR), is a method of measuring the electrical conductance of the skin, which varies with its moisture level. This is of interest because the sweat glands are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, so skin conductance is used as an indication of psychological or physiological arousal.

Overview

The electrodermal response is a result of the body's autonomic nervous system (ANS) responding to stimuli. The ANS controls many functions of the body, including heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, and sexual arousal. The ANS is divided into two subsystems, the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system is often considered the "fight or flight" system, while the parasympathetic nervous system is often considered the "rest and digest" or "feed and breed" system.

Measurement

The measurement of EDR is noninvasive and can be done in several ways. The most common method is to apply a small, constant voltage to two electrodes, and then measure the current that passes between them. This current is directly related to the electrical conductance of the skin. The electrodes are typically placed on the palm or fingertips, where the concentration of sweat glands is high.

Applications

EDR has been used in a variety of applications, including psychophysiology, psychology, medicine, and lie detection. In psychophysiology, EDR is often used to measure arousal. In psychology, it is used to study emotion and attention. In medicine, it is used to assess the health of the autonomic nervous system. In lie detection, it is one of several indicators of deception.

See also

• Skin conductance
• Psychophysiology
• Autonomic nervous system
• Sympathetic nervous system
• Parasympathetic nervous system

References

Electrodermal response Resources
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