An investigation of methods of measurement of the electrical phenomena of the skin

Summary

We have shown that it is reasonable to expect from the nerve sectioning studies on resistance of the skin and on the galvanic reflex, that a valid, standard technique can be worked out to give an index of sympathetic nerve reactivity, but that a systematic study of techniques and of the relationship between measures is a necessary first step toward such a measure if it is to be valid. Our experimental results indicate that curves for basic resistance vary with location of skin area and with technique used. Measurements with an ordinary standard Wheatstone bridge and a source of 1 1/2 volts gave no indication of a relationship to the functions under nervous control. Richter's technique was apparently more sensitive in that it shows a greater range of variation, though we are not yet satisfied as to the exact nature of the electrical phenomena which the technique measures. We plan to make a more extensive study with simultaneous measures and to use still other techniques.

In closing we wish to stress two points which we have raised in this paper. First, that resistance and galvanic reflex curves from differing techniques cannot beassumed to be comparable untilshown to be so; and second, previous experimental and clinical studies, indicate that valid measures of electrical skin phenomena when developed should provide valuable indices of neurological and physiological functions.