Galvanic skin response (GSR), also known as electrodermal response (EDR), psychogalvanic reflex (PGR), or skin conductance response (SCR),
is a method of measuring the electrical resistance of the skin. There has been a long history of electrodermal activity research, most of
it dealing with spontaneous fluctuations.
There is a relationship between sympathetic activity and emotional arousal, although one cannot identify the specific emotion being elicited.
The GSR is highly sensitive to emotions in some people. Fear, anger, startle response, orienting response and sexual feelings are all
among the emotions which may produce similar GSR responses.
An often misunderstood and difficult technique, GSR has gone through many phases of interest and rejection since the early 1900's.
It has been used in important research on anxiety and stress levels and it has been a part of lie detection.
With biofeedback, the GSR feedback instrument measures skin conductivity from the fingers and / or palms, which is associated with the activity of
the sweat glands. very slight electrical current (unnoticeable to you) is run through your skin.
The GSR is highly
sensitive to emotions in some people. GSR feedback has been used in the treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhydorses) and related
dermatological conditions, and for relaxing and desensitization training.
The biofeedback machine measures changes in the salt and water in your sweat gland ducts. The more emotionally aroused you are, the more
active your sweat glands are and the greater the electrical conductivity of your skin. GSR is effective in treating phobias, anxiety,
excessive sweating, and, at times, stuttering since these emotions will affect your skin's conductivity. It is used as a lie
detection test. Athletes use this technique to prepare for games - to make sure that they are not too anxious or have pre-game jitters.
Fluctuations in the skin's electrical resistance often associated with emotional states. For example, the biofeedback
system measures tiny, rapid fluctuations in skin moisture associated with the degree of arousal via a compact palm sensor presents these
changes to you by both audio and visual means.
Studies have shown that we have more control over so-called involuntary bodily functions than we once thought possible. As a result,
biofeedback can train individuals with techniques for living a healthier life overall - whether one is afflicted with a medical condition or not.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Galvanic skin response (GSR), also known as electrodermal response (EDR), psychogalvanic reflex (PGR), or skin conductance response (SCR),
is a method of measuring the electrical resistance of the skin. There has been a long history of electrodermal activity research, most of
it dealing with spontaneous fluctuations.
