Theoretical aspects of metal-electrolyte interfaces Final report

Skin surface electrode and electrochemical cell characteristics for human bioelectric response determination

Electrodermal Activity: Simultaneous Recordings

Electrodermal activity (EDA) is a sensitive measure of the sympathetic nervous system activity. It is used to describe changes in the skin electrical properties. This chapter aimed to show advantages of simultaneous recordings of EDA parameters at the same skin site over other recordings. The literature databases, Web of Science and Google Scholar, were searched using terms like “electrodermal activity,” “sequential recording,” “simultaneous recording,” “skin conductance,” “skin potential,” and “skin susceptance.” Articles that include sequential and/or simultaneous recording of EDA parameters were analyzed. The chapter presents a description of the oldest and current methods used for recording EDA parameters and an explanation of the newest techniques used in EDA researches. Although sequential recordings are predominant and widely spreading, much effort has been made to simultaneously record skin conductance (SC) and skin potential (SP), and recently researchers realized the capability of simultaneously recording SC, SP, and skin susceptance (SS) at the same skin site. The advantage of simultaneous over the sequence measurements is that the latter must be manually time realigned when measured by different instruments, which means it is time-consuming. Although the simultaneous measurements are used exclusively for research purposes at this stage, this may open horizons in the modern trends of psychophysiology applications in the near future

The effects of mild and intense startle stimuli on sensible moisture production and the palmar galvanic skin response

The present study investigates two possible related problems in GSR research, i.e., the nature of the effector mechanism(s) and the question of the appropriate GSR unit. Ninety Ss were subjected to relatively mild and relatively intense startle stimuli. Three GSR units {ohms, conductance and the logarithm of conductance) derived from these data were examined in terms of their distribution shape and independence of their initial values. While none of these units met the criterion of independence, log conductance units appeared to be the most appropriate unit for defining the Law of Initial Value. In the main, these units effectively normalized the pre-stimulus and GSR scores for both conditions. The issue was raised as to the effectiveness of operationally defining the LIV as a correlation (r) between the GSR and the pre-stimulus level. Some of these problems were seen to relate to the question of the universality of the Benjamin criterion. The data indicated a relationship between "low" basal resistance Ss, operation of the LIV and change in moisture production level. The evidence suggests that further investigation of the parameters of skin transpiration and eccrine sweat gland function is necessary to effectively relate the GSR effector mechanism(s) to the operation of the LIV.Includes bibliographical references (pages 57-62)California State University, Northridge. Department of Psychology

Physiological arousal response to differing musical genres

Music is a complex medium that has social, psychological, and physiological implications. Music elicits early emotional responses (arousal) in the sympathetic nervous system, that later become consciously recognized emotions. We investigated how music genre effects physiological arousal by measuring participant skin conductance level (SCL). Physiological responses of 19 participants (3 male, mean age 23 years) were recorded by way of the iWorx 214 Psychophysiology Teaching Kit. The stimuli were four different genres of music: classical, Dubstep, Celtic, and big band (swing). Stimuli were presented to participants in one of four counterbalanced blocks. Participants\u27 highest SCL matched their reported genre preference 31.57% of the time. Contrary to our hypothesis, participants did not have a higher SCL for their preferred music, leading us to hypothesize that people habituate to their musical preference. The most significant result was that participants were able to accurately describe their emotional arousal to a musical stimulus. Thus, participants were able to recognize their physiological reaction to musical genres

The Peripheral Effects of Cholinergic and Adrenergic Drugs on Palmar Skin Conductance in Humans

The pharmacology of autonomic innervation to the peripheral skin conductance (SC) effector was studied. The drugs used included atropine, bretylium, acetylcholine (ACh), epinephrine (EPI), and amphetamine. Drugs were administered by iontophoresis (IPS) and by local subcutaneous injection. Although several IPS procedures were used, all proved to be inefficient and unreliable. Subsequent experiments using atropine and ACh supported the theory that innervation to the peripheral SC effector was mainly cholinergic. However, results obtained using EPI suggest that an adrenergic component might also be involved. It was concluded though that this component probably had little physiological significance. Experiments using amphetamine and bretylium were inconclusive. A comparison of behavioral and drug induced changes in SC suggested that the psychological relevance of SC might be improved through a range-correction based on pharmacologically determined SC range scores.ThesisMaster of Arts (MA

Validation and tuning of a novel algorithm for the analysis of galvanic skin conductance signals

LAUREA MAGISTRALELa tesi descrive la taratura e la validazione di un algoritmo originale (Barbieri-Citi), sviluppato presso MIT di Boston, per studiare segnali di skin conductance. Grazie ad un modello capace di generare segnali SC realistici sviluppato ad hoc, vengono confrontate le sue prestazioni con quelle del software allo stato dell'arte "Ledalab". BC viene infine applicato a segnali di un protocollo reale per studiare l'effetto di 4 emozioni fondamentali (Gioia,Rabbia,Paura,Tristezza) su soggetti sani.This thesis work describes the tuning and validation of a novel algorithm (Barbieri-Citi) developed at MIT (Boston) to analyze galvanic skin conductance signals. Thanks to a model generating simulated SC signals, BC performances are compared to "Ledalab" performances, state of the art software for SC signals. Finally BC is applied to a real experimental protocol in order to investigate four emotion effects (Happiness,Sadness,Rage,Fear) to healthy subjects

Evaluating a sensor of skin conductance to assess dental anxiety

Tese de mestrado, Bioinformática e Biologia Computacional (Bioinformática), Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, 2015The anxiety related problems that adult population experience, are a common issue in Dental Practice. To overcome these problems it would be helpful to have an objective measure of the current anxiety of the patient. With this information, it should be possible to link the measured anxiety to an automated system that could distract the patient by altering the surrounding environment, i.e. Ambient Intelligence. This project consisted in measuring the skin conductance signal and correlating the responses related with documented dental stressful procedures. This was executed in a real clinical environment. Dental anxiety was assessed in over 70 patients with a 3 question survey using the Likert scale. Each answer was registered together with the level of skin conductance measured with a sensor placed in the patient fingers. The results showed a significant association between the dental anxiety score on two of the questions and the quantified skin electrodermal response. These findings aim to help design a future system based on ambient intelligence to distract and reduce dental anxiety during treatment.Uma parte significativa da população adulta tem problemas provocados pela ansiedade originada com a ida à consulta de Medicina Dentária. Seria vantajoso existir uma avaliação objetiva do nível de ansiedade do paciente durante a consulta para se ultrapassar estes problemas. Com esta informação seria possível alterar o ambiente envolvente através da ligação a um sistema automatizado inteligente para a distração do paciente durante a consulta. Este projeto consistiu na medição do sinal de condutividade da pele e correlação desta com as respostas a um questionário relacionado com atos dentários reconhecidos como causadores de grande ansiedade dentária. A ansiedade dentária foi avaliada em cerca de setenta pacientes por um questionário de três perguntas utilizando uma escala de Likert. Simultaneamente foi medida a condutividade da pele por um sensor colocado nos dedos da mão. Os resultados mostram uma associação significativa entre o nível de ansiedade obtido em duas das questões e a alteração da condutividade da pele. Estes resultados visam fornecer uma base para desenhar um futuro sistema de Ambiente Inteligente para distração da ansiedade dentária