Galvanic skin response

Galvanic Skin Response (GSR), also known as Electrodermal Activity (EDA), 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[edit | edit source]

The phenomenon was first described by the French neurologist Charles Féré in 1888. The galvanic skin response is used in scientific research and in polygraph (lie detector) machines. The underlying principle of GSR is that the skin, the largest organ in the human body, functions as a medium for signal transmission. The skin's electrical resistance varies with the state of sweat glands in the skin. The sweat glands are controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, so skin conductance is used as an indication of psychological or physiological arousal.

Measurement[edit | edit source]

The measurement of GSR involves passing a very small amount of electrical current (so small that it is generally not noticed by the subject) through the skin and measuring the resistance encountered by the current. The resistance encountered is inversely proportional to the amount of sweat present on the skin - the more sweat, the less resistance.

Applications[edit | edit source]

GSR has a wide range of applications, including in psychology for the study of emotions, neuroscience to understand brain function, and in medicine for the diagnosis of certain conditions. It is also used in lie detection and in marketing research.

References[edit | edit source]

Galvanic skin response Resources
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