Does the Electrodermal System “Take Sides” When It Comes to Emotions?

Kasos, Krisztian; Zimonyi, Szabolcs; Kasos, Eniko; Lifshitz, Avraham; Varga, Katalin; Szekely, Anna

doi:10.1007/s10484-018-9398-0

Published: 20 June 2018

Does the Electrodermal System “Take Sides” When It Comes to Emotions?

Krisztian Kasos^1,2,
Szabolcs Zimonyi²,
Eniko Kasos^1,2,
Avraham Lifshitz²,
Katalin Varga² &
Anna Szekely²

Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback volume 43, pages 203–210 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Traditionally, electrodermal research measurements were taken from the non-dominant hand. This was considered a valid measurement of arousal for the whole body. Some, however argue for a complex and asynchronous electrodermal system in terms of lateral and dermatome differences in emotional responding. The present study measured skin conductance responses to emotionally laden musical stimuli from the left and right index and middle fingers, as well as the left and right plantar surface of right handed participants (N = 39). The 7-s musical segments conveyed four emotional categories: fear, sadness, happiness and peacefulness. Our results suggest, that the electrodermal system responds to emotional musical stimuli in a lateralized manner on the palmar surfaces. Fear, sadness and peacefulness prompted right hand dominance while happiness elicited left hand dominant response. Lateralization of the palmar and plantar surfaces differed significantly. Moreover, an association between lateralization of the electrodermal system in response to fear and state anxiety was found. Results of the present study suggest that the electrodermal system displays lateral preferences, reacting with varying degree of intensity to different emotions. Apart from lateral differences, music induced emotions show dermatome differences as well. These findings fit well with Multiple Arousal Theory, and prompt for revaluating the notion of uniform electrodermal arousal.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Faculty of Education and Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE-PPK), the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities (ÚNKP), and by the Hungarian Scientific Research Funds (OTKA K100845).

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Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
Krisztian Kasos & Eniko Kasos
Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, 46 Izabella Street, Budapest, Hungary
Krisztian Kasos, Szabolcs Zimonyi, Eniko Kasos, Avraham Lifshitz, Katalin Varga & Anna Szekely

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Krisztian Kasos
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Szabolcs Zimonyi
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Eniko Kasos
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Avraham Lifshitz
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Katalin Varga
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Anna Szekely
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Kasos, K., Zimonyi, S., Kasos, E. et al. Does the Electrodermal System “Take Sides” When It Comes to Emotions?. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback 43, 203–210 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-018-9398-0

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Published: 20 June 2018
Issue Date: September 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10484-018-9398-0

Keywords

Electrodermal
Emotion
Music
Laterality
Arousal