Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The hypothesis of the nature of electrodermal reactions

  • Published:
Human Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Long-term studies of electrodermal activity (EDA) in the activation-relaxation cycles, including simultaneous recording of skin resistance and temperature, were conducted. The new facts observed (a rapid drop in conductance after electrodermal response (EDR), a frequent absence of a correlation between skin resistance and EDR frequency, the conditions for correlation between the dynamics of resistance and temperature) are difficult to explain within the framework of the most generally accepted hypothesis of the formation of all EDA components by the secretory region of the eccrine sweat glands. They testify in favor of the hypothesis of the existence of two systems of EDA regulation that are largely independent. According to the hypothesis, the thermoregulation function is mainly mediated by the continuous release of a secretion resulting in tonic changes in resistance. EDR occur in response to emotions and are associated with thermoregulation, but only slightly. They are determined by the properties of the excretory region of the gland. The phase of decrease in resistance is accompanied by narrowing of the ducts caused by myoepithelial cells on activation, possibly adrenergic, of the sympathetic nervous system.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Edelberg, R., Electrical Properties of the Skin inBiophysical Properties of the Skin, Elden, H.R., Ed., New York, 1971.

  2. Electrodermal Activity in Psychological Research, Prokasy, W.F., Ed., New York: Acad., 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aldersons, A.A.,Mekhanizmy elektrodermal'nykh reaktsii (The Mechanisms of Electrodermal Responses), Riga: Zinatne, 1985, p. 129.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Dawson, M.E., Shell, A.M., and Filion, D.N., The Electrodermal System inPrinciples of Psychophysiology, Cacioppo, J.T. and Tassinary, L.G., Eds., Cambridge Univ. Press. 1990, p. 295.

  5. Hasset, J.,Vvedenie v psikhofiziologiyu (Introduction into Psychophysiology), Moscow: Mir, 1981.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Vossel, G. and Kossman, R., Electrodermal Habituation Speed and Visual Monitoring Performance,Psychophysiology, 1984, vol. 21, no. 1, p. 97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Collet, C., Poure, R., Rada, H.,et al., Relationships between Performance and Skin Resistance Evolution Involving Various Motor Skills,Physiol. Behav., 1996, vol. 59, o. 4, p. 953.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Freedman, L.W., Serbo, A.S., Dawson, M.E.,et al., The Relationship of Sweat Glands Count to Electrodermal Activity,Psychophysiology, 1994, vol. 31, no. 2, p. 196.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. MacGoodall, C., Innervation and Inhibition of Eccrine and Apocrine Glands,J. Clin. Pharmacol., 1970, vol. 10, no. 4, p. 235.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Wolf, J.E. and Maibach, H.I., Palmar Eccrine Sweating—the Role of Adrenergic and Cholinergic Mediation,Brit. J. Dermat., 1974, vol. 1, no. 4, p. 439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Uno, H., Sympathetic Innervation of the Sweat Glands and Piloerrector Muscles of Macaques and Human Beings,J. Invest. Dermat., 1977, vol. 69, no. 1, p. 112.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Robertshow, D., Neuroendocrine Control of Sweat Glands,J. Invest. Dermat., 1977, vol. 69, no. 1 p. 121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Sato, K., The Physiology and Pharmacology of the Eccrine Sweat Gland inBiochemistry and Physiology of the Skin, Goldsmoth, L.A., Ed., New York, 1983, p. 596.

  14. Shields, S.A., MacDowell, K.A., Fairchild, S., and Campbell, M.L., Is Mediation of Sweating Cholinergic, Adrenergic or Both?,Psychophysiology, 1987, vol. 24, no. 3, p. 312.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Lidberg, L., and Wally, B.G., Sympathetic Skin Nerve Discharges in Relation to Amplitude of Skin Resistance Responses,Psychophysiology, 1981, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 268.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Lovibond, P.F., Tonic and Phasic Electrodermal Measurements of Human Aversive Conditioning with Long Duration Stimuli,Psychophysiology, 1992 vol. 29, no. 6, p. 621.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Bligh, J. A., A Thesis concerning the Processes of Secretion and Discharge of Sweat,Environ. Res., 1967, vol. 1, p. 28.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Fowles, D.C., Chritie, M.J., Edelberg, R.,et al., Publication Recommendations for Electrodermal Measurements,Psychophysiology, 1981, vol. 18, no. 2, p. 232.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Anbar, M., Quantitative Dynamic Telethermometry in Medical Diagnosis and Management,CRC Press, 1994.

  20. Gulyaev, Yu.V., Godik, E.E., Markov, A.G.,et al., Infrared Dynamic Thermography of Biological Objects,Int. J. Infrared Millim. Waves, 1987, vol. 8, no. 5, p. 317.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Gulyaev, Yu.V., Markov, A.G., Koreneva, L.G., and Zakharov, P.V., Dynamical Infrared Thermography in Humans,IEEE. EMB, 1995, vol. 14, no. 6, p. 766.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Hensel, H.,Thermoreception and Temperature Regulation, New York: Academic, 1981, p. 321.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Krauklis, A.A. and Aldersons, A.A., The Conditions for the Origin and Regularities of the Dynamics of Dermal-Galvanic Response,Fiziol. Chel., 1982, vol. 8, no. 6, p. 910.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Mangina, S.A. and Beuzeron-Mangina, J.H., Direct Electrical Stimulation of Specific Human Brain Structures and Bilateral Electrodermal Activity,Int. J. Phychophysiol., 1996, vol. 22, no. 1, p. 1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Sato, K., Pharmacological Responsiveness of the Myoepithelium of the Isolated Human Auxiliary Apocrine Sweat Gland,Brit. J. Dermat., 1980, vol. 103, no. 3, p. 235.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Edelberg, R., The Effect of Initial Levels of Sweat Duct Filling and Skin Hydration on Electrodermal Response Amplitude,Psychophysiology, 1983, vol. 20, no. 5, p. 550.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Kennedy, W.R., Wendelschafer, C.C., and Brelje, T.C., Innervation and Vasculature of Human Sweat Glands: An Immunohistochemistry-Laser Scanning Confoal Fluorescence Microscopy Study,J. Neurosci., 1994, vol. 14, no. 11, part 2, p. 6825.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Dudel, Dzh., Ryueg, I., Shmidt, R., and Yanig, V.,Fiziologiya cheloveka (Human Physiology), vol. 3:Krov', krovoobrashchenie (Blood and Blood Circulation), Moscow: Mir, 1985.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Habecker, B.A. and Landis, S.C., Noradrenergic Regulation of Cholionergic Differentiation,Science, 1994, vol. 264 (5165), p. 1602.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Macefield, V.G. and Wallin, B.G., The Discharge Behavior of Single Sympathetic Neurons Supplying Human Sweat Glands,J. Auton. Nerv. Syst., 1996, vol. 61 no. 3, p. 277.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Eldis Research Center of Electronic Diagnostic Systems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    V. V. Dementienko, L. G. Koreneva, A. G. Markov, A. V. Tarasov & V. M. Shakhnarovich

  2. Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

    V. B. Dorokhov

Authors
  1. V. V. Dementienko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. V. B. Dorokhov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. G. Koreneva
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. G. Markov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. V. Tarasov
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V. M. Shakhnarovich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dementienko, V.V., Dorokhov, V.B., Koreneva, L.G. et al. The hypothesis of the nature of electrodermal reactions. Hum Physiol 26, 232–239 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02760098

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02760098

Keywords

Search

Navigation