ABSTRACT
The idea of studying electrical activity of the skin probably does not cause much excitement in the average person. However, as an important measure in psychophysiology, it has had a long and interesting history; and it is a very lively topic of research. Sample issues involving electrodermal activity (EDA) are whether it can distinguish between positive and negative emotions and whether persons who show large numbers of spontaneous changes in EDA are more efficient at processing information. In addition, psychophysiologists have asked questions regarding relationships between EDA and response speed, and whether it varies with learning efficiency. Researchers have investigated whether EDA can tell us anything about motivational level, and have explored it extensively in studies of the orienting response. The extent to which EDA can be classically or instrumentally conditioned has also been an important issue. Another, albeit controversial, issue regards the use of skin activity changes to indicate whether a person is lying. The topic of lie detection is discussed more fully in chapter 17 on applications of physiological measures to practical problems.
