Neurophysiological Clues to Auditory Acuity

Abstract

Description of an attempt to utilize the galvanic skin responses as neurophysiological clues to auditory acuity. The equipment records the Tarchanoff effect, or the actual electromotive force which is generated between 2 electrodes, presumably by the action of the sweat glands. The procedure necessarily varied from subject to subject. Subjects varied tremendously in their responses, some responding perfectly down to their thresholds of sensitivity as measured by audiograms while other subjects often gave no consistent response even at intensities well above threshold. The 2d problem of subject variation was difficult, but a warning device of a small flashlight helped in producing galvanic skin response. The most satisfactory results were obtained by telling the subject that the auditory stimulus would be presented sometime within a period of 8 sec. after the light went out. There is some belief gleaned from research at Deshon General Hospital that emotionally charged speech material may result in a more reliable galvanic skin response but the evidence is meager. The galvanic skin response offers a promising means of ascertaining auditory acuity.