Relation of bodily tension to electrical resistance.

Abstract

The general problem of this experiment was to compare the electrical resistance of the subject during relaxation with his resistance during bodily tension. The electrical resistance of the human body has been studied by many investigators under various conditions. It has been studied with reference to the activity of the sweat glands by Darrow (i), Einthoven and Roos (3), Georgi (4), Markbreiter (6), Waller (11), and Wells and Forbes ( 14). It has been studied with reference to circulation by Jung (5), Sidis and Nelson (9), and Waller (11). Ebbecke (2), Feri (5), Jung (5), Darrow (1), Priedeaux (10), Sidis and Kalmus (8), Tarchanoff (5), and Veraguth (5) have studied it with reference to mechanical, chemical, and electrical stimulations. No one, so far as the writer has been able to ascertain, has made any thoroughgoing investigation of the relation existing between bodily tension and electrical resistance. This relationship should not be neglected, for if it is discovered that the electrical resistance does vary with bodily tension, it will be necessary to take this fact into consideration in performing experiments with the galvanic reflex and in interpreting the experiments hitherto performed. APPARATUSThe electrodes used in this experiment were made of zinc, and were about two centimeters long and a centimeter wide. These electrodes were covered with kaolin paste and an extremely weak solution of zinc sulphate. In the various series the electrodes were attached to different portions of 1 From the Psychological Laboratory of the University of Chicago. I am indebted to Dr. C. W. Darrow for aid in this experiment.

Adaptation in energy mobilization: changes in general level of palmar skin conductance.

“…showed a slow decrease in conductance (or increase in resistance). They state that this decrease was also noted by White (34). It thus appears that adaptation may occur even during a period of relatively uncontrolled stimulation, on any given day and, as we have pointed out above, from day to day (see Table II).…”

The effect of movement on the electrodermal response.

“…This result is to be expected because of the degree of tension created. These data confirm those of White (15) who observed that resistance is decreased with tension. With the exception of one movement of one O (crossing of knee) all movements caused a decrease of resistance.…”

“…Usually, too, such a movement resulted in a curve of irregular shape, quite different from the characteristic curve of the psychogalvanic reflex. White (15) compared electrical resistance during relaxation with resistance during bodily tension. He used a dynamometer to produce one type of tension and voluntary bodily tension for another type.…”

Level of Muscular Tension as an Aspect of Personality

“…Palmar skin conductance, for example, has been found to vary directly with variations in tension of the muscles (6,13,9). Muscular tension would also correlate, no doubt, with insensible weight loss or other measures of metabolic activity.…”