Skin conductance

The electrodermal activity (obsolete: (psycho ) galvanic skin response, english Galvanic skin response, GSR, skin conductance response, SCR, or Electrodermal response, EDR) is a short-term drop in the electrical conduction resistance of the skin, caused by the typical increase in the sympathetic tone in emotional affective reactions. This leads to increased sweating, corresponding to an increase in the skin conductance.

With the help of measurements of electrodermal activity can objectify psychophysiological relationships, as each physiological arousal, as it is accompanied by emotions or stress, skin conductance changes.

Unit of measurement of skin conductance is the Siemens in the International System of Units.

Application Examples

For several reasons, self-reports of people are notoriously wrong or distorted. Often they are aware of their attitudes, emotions and emotions aware (for example, subliminal stimuli ), or they do not want to admit it ( because they contradict their ideal self ), or want to be represented not in a good light (see Social Desirability ). The measurement of skin conductance is currently one of the most accurate methods to measure human responses objectively.

• You can uncover deliberate distortions of the truth and is part of the so-called lie detector and - seemingly - the Bogus pipeline, a device from which the subjects believe that it could detect any untrue statement, so it would be pointless to lie.
• Even unconscious distortions become apparent, for example, many people have prejudices, without knowing it.
• The effect of pheromones can be shown to her.
• In rare Capgras syndrome, patients believe their related parties have been replaced by doubles. In case of contact with these individuals remains, as with strangers, an emotional reaction from what can be objectively established by the fact that their electrodermal activity does not change.