Analysis of sympathetic activity induced by stimulation

Abstract

Brain waves, sympathetic ncrvc activity, blood flow, perspiration and skin temperature induced by sensation stimulation were simultaneously measured in order to analyze mechanisms that cause skin temperature changes associated with sensations. The results suggested that stimulation of the sympathetic nerve system, including skin temperature, is induced when intense stressful stimulation is recognized, and also indicated that thc reaction gradually declines even though it may at times recover to the level of an initial reaction. The results also suggested that skin sympathetic nerve activity(in the case of vasomotor) may decline as ambient temperature rises. IntroductionSkin temperature is thought to be an effective indicator for objectively evaluating human sensation because it reflects the course of information processing within the brain by varying with sympathetic nerve activity[ I], and because it can be measured without physical contact using an infrared camera. Unfortunately, many points about the biological mechanisms involved in skin temperature changes associated with the onset of sensations arc still unclear, and we are currently in the process of developing a quantitative understanding of these mecha-