Methodological considerations in ambulatory skin conductance monitoring

Abstract

Little is known how much skin conductance (SC) recordings from the fingers are affected by factors such as electrode site deterioration, ambient temperature (TMP), or physical activity (ACT), or by age, sex, race, or body mass index.We recorded SC, TMP, and ACT in 48 healthy control subjects for a 24-hour period, and calculated SC level (SCL), its standard deviation, the coefficient of SC variation, and frequency and amplitude of non-specific SC fluctuations. One method of assessing electrode site deterioration showed an average decline of 20 %, while a second method found no significant change. All SC measures were higher during waking than sleep. Other factors influenced different measures in different ways. Thus, 24-hour SC recording outside the laboratory is feasible, but some measures need to be corrected for the influence of confounding variables.

Electrodermal Activity Monitoring during Endotracheal Suction in Sedated Adult Intensive Care Unit Patients

“…27 Yet, in the present study, both groups were similar both in age, weight and BMI. All measurements were conducted on white Caucasian patients; hence any racial effects on EDA were also absent.…”

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“…Steptoe and Wardle (2005) found that BMI was associated with impaired post-stress recovery of systolic pressure and diastolic pressure independently of age, gender, and baseline cardiovascular activity. Doberenz et al (2011) found that sex affected non-specific skin conductance fluctuation amplitudes and the coefficient of skin conductance variation: men had significantly lower values compared to women. Furthermore, BMI significantly lowered the number of non-specific skin conductance fluctuations and was negatively but not significantly associated with SCL and SCL standard deviation with small to medium effect sizes.…”

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“…Exploiting signal features that could contain emotional information; for example, the number of peaks in the ElectroDermal Activity (EDA) [62,136,163,203,437,497,530,536,577] signal is counted, serving as a measure for arousal. Or the presence and strength of a smile can be derived from camera recordings, serving as measures for happiness.…”

“…In addition, the participants' EDA was recorded. EDA is a robust and well documented biosignal that reveals the level of experienced arousal [62,163]. Chapter 4.…”

“…For example, the upper phalanx of the finger tips conventionally used for skin conductance measurements cannot be used while driving a car [269,272,329,330,474]. Other parts of the hands or the sole of the foot might be used instead [62,163]. However, the number of sweat glands differs significantly between these and other possible positions of measurement; see also Table 10.3, can be used to compare measurements done on distinct locations.…”