Measurements of galvanic skin conductance are useful for many types of psychological research, and are also used with biofeedback devices in which a subject may want to control responses to stressful situations.
Increases in sweat production increase conductivity, and although this does not tell us specifically which emotional response the subject is experiencing, it is at least an indication of levels of autonomic activity. The ability to easily record and measure various physiological responses is a key requirement in psychophysiology where the focus is on the relationship between mental and physiological processes. Porter Jr - 1938 - Journal of Experimental. Psychogalvanic reflex (PGR), also called galvanic skin response (GSR), a change in the electrical properties of the body (probably of the skin) following noxious stimulation, stimulation that produces emotional reaction, and, to some extent, stimulation that attracts the subject’s attention and leads to an aroused alertness. vary over time in individuals depending on his or her psychological state and autonomic regulation. Adaptation of the Galvanic Skin Response.J. Start studying Week 11: The Galvanic Skin Response. Changes in conductivity are attributed to changes in the activity of the autonomic nervous system, which, when active, is associated with increased sweat production as well as increases in heart rate and blood pressure, and diversion of blood from gut toward limb musculature (1). Siegel - 1949 - Journal of Experimental Psychology 39 (1):122. “Galvanic skin conductance” is a term referring to variations in electrical conductivity which can be measured across the surface of the skin.