Cognitive Remediation Journal 2013, 2(1):10-15 | DOI: 10.5507/crj.2013.002

Biomedical principle and application of electrodermal response in clinical practice

Z. Višňovcová, I. Tonhajzerová
Ústav fyziológie, Jesseniova Lekárska Fakulta Univerzity Komenského, Martin, Malá Hora 4

Elektrodermálna aktivita (EDA), pravdepodobne ako jediný neinvazívny parameter hodnotiaci sympatikovú časť autonómneho nervového systému (ANS), umožňuje hodnotiť zmeny danej časti ANS počas rôznych psychologických stavov. Pre správne ohodnotenie správania sa je dôležité porozumieť aj biomedicínskej podstate monitorovania EDA.
Cieľom práce je poskytnúť biomedicínsky pohľad na elektrodermálnu aktivitu a súčasne jej klinickú aplikáciu pri psychických poruchách.

Metodika: Princíp EDA spočíva v snímaní elektrických zmien na povrchu kože. Koža tvorí pomerne nevodivú vrstvu. Potením dochádza k premene nevodivej vrstvy kože na vodivú, čo nám umožňuje snímať kožnú vodivosť, teda EDA.

Záver: EDA predstavuje neinvazívny nástroj pre monitorovanie psychologických procesov prebiehajúcich v ľudskom tele. Predpokladá sa, že sledovanie zmien EDA má prínos pri včasnej diagnostike, resp. terapii v psychiatrii.

Keywords: Elektrodermálna aktivita, stres, ADHD, depresívna porucha

Electrodermal activity (EDA) allows to evaluate the changes of the sympathetic nervous system during various psychological states by noninvasive approach. Sympathetic overactivity is associated with higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity. Therefore, it is very important to understand of the EDA biomedical principle for following correct evaluation in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to provide the biomedical principle of EDA with clinical application in mental disorders.

Methods: The principle of EDA is based on record of electrical variation on the body surface. Skin represents relatively a nonconductive layer. Sweating provides the change of this non-conductor layer of skin to conductive, so it allows recording of the skin conductance - electrodermal activity. This noninvasive marker of sympathetic activity can be used in stress profile, and in clinical practice (depression, ADHD) from the point of cardiovascular risk.

Conclusion: EDA represents non-invasive method for monitoring psychological process, which take place in the human body. It is assumed that EDA recording can contribute to early diagnosis and therapeutic interventions of cardiovascular dysregulation in mental disorders.

Keywords: Electrodermal activity, ADHD, depression

Received: January 31, 2013; Accepted: March 10, 2013; Published: May 17, 2013  Show citation

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Višňovcová Z, Tonhajzerová I. Biomedical principle and application of electrodermal response in clinical practice. Cogn. Remediat. J. 2013;2(1):10-15. doi: 10.5507/crj.2013.002.
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