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Electrodermal activity and temperament in preschool children
D C Fowles1, G Kochanska, K Murray
1Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Insights
This study investigated young children's electrodermal reactivity, finding that physiological stimuli like loud sounds elicited skin conductance responses (SCRs). Temperament dimensions, fearfulness and effortful control, showed modest correlations with SCRs at age four.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Psychophysiology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Electrodermal reactivity (EDR) patterns in young children are not well understood.
- The behavioral inhibition system (BIS) is theorized to influence individual differences in emotional and behavioral regulation.
- Understanding EDR in children can provide insights into the development of the BIS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate EDR patterns in 4-year-old children.
- To test if EDR reflects individual differences in the BIS, specifically fearfulness and effortful control.
- To examine the relationship between physiological and psychological stimuli and SCRs.
Main Methods:
- Recorded skin conductance responses (SCRs) in 92 children aged 4 years.
- Exposed children to physiological stimuli (breaths, sounds) and psychological stimuli (conflict, emotional films).
- Assessed temperament dimensions (fearfulness, effortful control) using observational batteries at ages 2 and 4.
Main Results:
- Physiological stimuli (sounds) and, to a lesser extent, psychological stimuli elicited clear SCRs.
- Psychological conflict and emotional film clips generally did not increase skin conductance (SC).
- Significant, though modest, correlations were found between SC lability and temperament dimensions (fearfulness, effortful control) at age 4.
Conclusions:
- Electrodermal reactivity in young children is influenced by physiological stimuli.
- Temperament dimensions related to the BIS show modest associations with EDR in early childhood.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the link between EDR and BIS development.
Abstract:
This study had two objectives: To examine poorly understood patterns of young children's electrodermal reactivity and to test the hypothesis that this reactivity reflects individual differences in the behavioral inhibition system (BIS). We recorded skin conductance responses (SCRs) from 92 4-year-old children during a laboratory session that encompassed physiological and psychological stimuli. Physiological stimuli (breaths), moderately loud to loud sounds (expected and unexpected) and, to a lesser extent, stimuli with psychological significance elicited clear SCRs. Induction of psychological conflict and exposure to emotional film clips for the most part did not elicit increases in skin conductance (SC). Children's temperament dimensions of fearfulness and effortful (or inhibitory) control--two components of the BIS--were assessed using robust observational batteries at age 2 and 4 years. The theoretically expected correlations between overall SC lability (reflecting SC levels) and both dimensions of temperament were significant, albeit modest and limited to the contemporaneous measures at age 4.