The skin conductance level, SCL, also called galvanic skin response (GSR), is the measurement of skin conductivity from the fingers and / or palms. The SCL is highly sensitive to emotions in almost all people. Measuring and showing SCL to a user in real time (biofeedback) has been used for a long time for relaxation and desensitization training. It has been used in important research on anxiety and stress levels (Fenz & Epstein, ' 67); and it has been a part of lie detection (Raskin, ' 73).
The activity of the glands in the palms and soles of the feet is an expression of activity of the vagus nerve and as such an expression of psychological or mental agitation. In the context of an office this is usually an expression of stress. Any agitation is almost immediately visible in the activity of the glands.
In 0.5 to 3 seconds after activation starts the produced sweat of the glands reaches the surface of the skin and so changes the skin conductance.
|
