The relationship under stress between changes in skin temperature, electrical skin resistance, and pulse rate.

Abstract

Simultaneous recordings of skin temperature, electral skin resistance, and pulse rate were made upon 52 human subjects during rest and stress periods. Two kinds of stress were used. These were presentation of a jumping electric spark, believed to be relatively strong emotion provoking, and induced muscular tension. The purpose was to study the relationship between bodily changes under variable conditions with a view to psychological significance. Thermistors were used as pick-up devices for recording skin temperature changes. The recordings indicated that under stress skin resistance decreases, skin temperature increases and pulse rate increases. A low, but dependable, correlation was found between these changes.