Electrodermal Activity Responses as Predictor of Physiological and Emotional Responses to Different Visual Stimuli

Electrodermal activity (EDA) responses are characterized by fast fluctuations in skin conductance responses (SCRs), skin potential responses (SPRs), and skin susceptance responses (SSRs) triggered by various distinct stimuli. SCRs to various visual stimuli have been investigated in some studies, but not on SSRs and SPRs. This study evaluated the three EDA (SCRs, SSRs, and SPRs) scores to various visual (emotional) stimuli.

EDA responses following five different visual stimuli were recorded from 40 healthy participants (20 male and 20 female) aged in the range 18-25 years (mean 19.75 years) simultaneously recorded at the same skin site. Visual stimuli were funny, sad, scary, nature, and romantic.

The obtained results indicated that the different visual stimuli caused significant (P < 0.005) variations in the EDA responses as a result of activation of the sympathetic nervous system and sweat secretion. In addition, the amplitudes of EDA waveforms were higher for funny and scary pictures compared to other pictures.

EDA responses could be an important physiological measure, and EDA instruments might be used in diverse psychophysiological applications, including emotion recognition.