Psychogalvanic Studies in Schizophrenia

Electrodermal activity in schizophrenics: Further considerations.

“…However, there appears to be adequate evidence of (a) lessened reactivity for certain subgroups of schizophrenics, with a tendency for the lowest responsiveness to be found among the stuporous catatonics or the quite "demented" patients; and there is evidence of (b) increase in electrodermal reactivity toward a more normal level accompanying clinical improvement in patients previously having very low reactivity. Although not detailed above, both sets of findings have parallels in the data on skin conductance level, measured either at rest or during a variety of stimulus situations (Gruzelier & Venables, 1972;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928;Westburgh, 1929).…”

“…In fact, at least one stuporous catatonic did not even show responses to a pin prick or the sound of an auto horn. Similarly, Syz and Kinder (1928) reported that their stuporous catatonics gave abnormally few specific skin conductance responses to the same set of verbal and physical stimuli previously used by Syz (1926). Westburgh (1929) reported smaller skin conductance responses to a list of "neutral" and "emotionally charged" words for his sample of schizophrenics than for his normal individuals, with catatonics showing the smallest responses.…”

Electrodermal activity in schizophrenics: Further considerations.

“…However, there appears to be adequate evidence of (a) lessened reactivity for certain subgroups of schizophrenics, with a tendency for the lowest responsiveness to be found among the stuporous catatonics or the quite "demented" patients; and there is evidence of (b) increase in electrodermal reactivity toward a more normal level accompanying clinical improvement in patients previously having very low reactivity. Although not detailed above, both sets of findings have parallels in the data on skin conductance level, measured either at rest or during a variety of stimulus situations (Gruzelier & Venables, 1972;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928;Westburgh, 1929).…”

“…In fact, at least one stuporous catatonic did not even show responses to a pin prick or the sound of an auto horn. Similarly, Syz and Kinder (1928) reported that their stuporous catatonics gave abnormally few specific skin conductance responses to the same set of verbal and physical stimuli previously used by Syz (1926). Westburgh (1929) reported smaller skin conductance responses to a list of "neutral" and "emotionally charged" words for his sample of schizophrenics than for his normal individuals, with catatonics showing the smallest responses.…”

Electrodermal activity as an index of arousal in schizophrenics.

“…Investigations utilizing psychologically stressful conditions revealed similar results. Thus, Syz (1926) and Syz and Kinder (1928) reported 21% and &% more spontaneous fluctuation activity in paranoid and catatonic patients, respectively, than in controls during periods of listening to emotionally provoking words. No response to words was required.…”

“…Measures of frequency of spontaneous responses yield consistently higher rates of response for schizophrenics whether measured during minimal stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968) or during more stressful stimulation (Jurko et al, 1952;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928). In contrast, the studies showing poor habituation of schizophrenics using either tonic levels or phasic response amplitudes have involved a minimum of stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Israel, 1966;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968).…”

The effect of temporal lobe surgery on electrodermal activity: implications for an organic hypothesis in the aetiology of schizophrenia

“…Bilateral symmetry of electrodermal activity (EDA) in schizophrenia has, until recently, received little attention. Earlier studies (Syz, 1926;Dykman et al 1968) commented on the size of the bilateral difference but failed to note any consistent pattern cr direction. The reported association between epileptic foci in the dominant temporal lobe and schizophrenia-like syndromes (Flor-Henry, 1969) has given fresh impetus to this area of research.…”

Electrodermal activity in schizophrenics: Further considerations.

“…However, there appears to be adequate evidence of (a) lessened reactivity for certain subgroups of schizophrenics, with a tendency for the lowest responsiveness to be found among the stuporous catatonics or the quite "demented" patients; and there is evidence of (b) increase in electrodermal reactivity toward a more normal level accompanying clinical improvement in patients previously having very low reactivity. Although not detailed above, both sets of findings have parallels in the data on skin conductance level, measured either at rest or during a variety of stimulus situations (Gruzelier & Venables, 1972;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928;Westburgh, 1929).…”

“…In fact, at least one stuporous catatonic did not even show responses to a pin prick or the sound of an auto horn. Similarly, Syz and Kinder (1928) reported that their stuporous catatonics gave abnormally few specific skin conductance responses to the same set of verbal and physical stimuli previously used by Syz (1926). Westburgh (1929) reported smaller skin conductance responses to a list of "neutral" and "emotionally charged" words for his sample of schizophrenics than for his normal individuals, with catatonics showing the smallest responses.…”

Electrodermal activity as an index of arousal in schizophrenics.

“…Investigations utilizing psychologically stressful conditions revealed similar results. Thus, Syz (1926) and Syz and Kinder (1928) reported 21% and &% more spontaneous fluctuation activity in paranoid and catatonic patients, respectively, than in controls during periods of listening to emotionally provoking words. No response to words was required.…”

“…Measures of frequency of spontaneous responses yield consistently higher rates of response for schizophrenics whether measured during minimal stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968) or during more stressful stimulation (Jurko et al, 1952;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928). In contrast, the studies showing poor habituation of schizophrenics using either tonic levels or phasic response amplitudes have involved a minimum of stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Israel, 1966;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968).…”

The effect of temporal lobe surgery on electrodermal activity: implications for an organic hypothesis in the aetiology of schizophrenia

“…Bilateral symmetry of electrodermal activity (EDA) in schizophrenia has, until recently, received little attention. Earlier studies (Syz, 1926;Dykman et al 1968) commented on the size of the bilateral difference but failed to note any consistent pattern cr direction. The reported association between epileptic foci in the dominant temporal lobe and schizophrenia-like syndromes (Flor-Henry, 1969) has given fresh impetus to this area of research.…”

Electrodermal activity in schizophrenics: Further considerations.

“…However, there appears to be adequate evidence of (a) lessened reactivity for certain subgroups of schizophrenics, with a tendency for the lowest responsiveness to be found among the stuporous catatonics or the quite "demented" patients; and there is evidence of (b) increase in electrodermal reactivity toward a more normal level accompanying clinical improvement in patients previously having very low reactivity. Although not detailed above, both sets of findings have parallels in the data on skin conductance level, measured either at rest or during a variety of stimulus situations (Gruzelier & Venables, 1972;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928;Westburgh, 1929).…”

“…In fact, at least one stuporous catatonic did not even show responses to a pin prick or the sound of an auto horn. Similarly, Syz and Kinder (1928) reported that their stuporous catatonics gave abnormally few specific skin conductance responses to the same set of verbal and physical stimuli previously used by Syz (1926). Westburgh (1929) reported smaller skin conductance responses to a list of "neutral" and "emotionally charged" words for his sample of schizophrenics than for his normal individuals, with catatonics showing the smallest responses.…”

Electrodermal activity as an index of arousal in schizophrenics.

“…Investigations utilizing psychologically stressful conditions revealed similar results. Thus, Syz (1926) and Syz and Kinder (1928) reported 21% and &% more spontaneous fluctuation activity in paranoid and catatonic patients, respectively, than in controls during periods of listening to emotionally provoking words. No response to words was required.…”

“…Measures of frequency of spontaneous responses yield consistently higher rates of response for schizophrenics whether measured during minimal stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968) or during more stressful stimulation (Jurko et al, 1952;Syz, 1926;Syz & Kinder, 1928). In contrast, the studies showing poor habituation of schizophrenics using either tonic levels or phasic response amplitudes have involved a minimum of stimulation (Bernstein, 1967;Fowles et al, 1970;Israel, 1966;Zahn, 1964;Zahn et al, 1968).…”

The effect of temporal lobe surgery on electrodermal activity: implications for an organic hypothesis in the aetiology of schizophrenia

“…Bilateral symmetry of electrodermal activity (EDA) in schizophrenia has, until recently, received little attention. Earlier studies (Syz, 1926;Dykman et al 1968) commented on the size of the bilateral difference but failed to note any consistent pattern cr direction. The reported association between epileptic foci in the dominant temporal lobe and schizophrenia-like syndromes (Flor-Henry, 1969) has given fresh impetus to this area of research.…”