Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionUsesConditions Treated
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Uses
Conditions Treated
The galvanic skin response is typically used in medical research or in a type of treatment known as biofeedback therapy.Learn more about the galvanic skin response, including its definition, uses, and conditions treated.
John Fedele / Getty Images
The galvanic skin response measures the skin’s electrical changes in response to sweat gland activity in the fingers and palms.The skin tends to become a “better” conductor of electricity when you experience something intense or out of the ordinary—that is, when you are physiologically aroused.
GSR is an indicator of autonomic (involuntary) bodily response. When exposed to external or internal stimuli—such as sound, light, temperature, emotions, words, and faces—your body reacts involuntarily.
As your level of physiological arousal (meaning activation) changes, so do your autonomic responses.Arousal can be positive, negative, or neutral.For example, people tend to sweat more when they are hot, excited, or emotionally stressed.Pupils dilatewhen someone enters a dark room or when they see someone they are attracted to.
What Is the Autonomic Nervous System?Theautonomic nervous systemregulates the actions of the body’s glands and smooth muscles, such as the reproductive organs and the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.It includes the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.The parasympathetic nervous system controls functions like sleep, sex, pleasure, and eating.Meanwhile, thesympathetic nervous system—which produces the galvanic skin response—helps to control the fight-or-flight response.
What Is the Autonomic Nervous System?
Theautonomic nervous systemregulates the actions of the body’s glands and smooth muscles, such as the reproductive organs and the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.It includes the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.The parasympathetic nervous system controls functions like sleep, sex, pleasure, and eating.Meanwhile, thesympathetic nervous system—which produces the galvanic skin response—helps to control the fight-or-flight response.
Theautonomic nervous systemregulates the actions of the body’s glands and smooth muscles, such as the reproductive organs and the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems.It includes the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
The parasympathetic nervous system controls functions like sleep, sex, pleasure, and eating.Meanwhile, thesympathetic nervous system—which produces the galvanic skin response—helps to control the fight-or-flight response.
Galvanic skin response is usually measured with pain-free sensors placed on the body, often on the hands, feet, and/or fingers.Certain wearable devices, such as specially designed gloves and watches, may also be used to measure changes in skin conductance.Data about the galvanic skin response is also sometimes used in virtual reality (VR)–based therapy.
GSR information is sometimes used to gather data as part of medical research.For example, a 2020 study found that people in theintensive care unit(ICU) experienced positive changes in GSR signals in response to attention from a nurse or family member, even while in a coma. This information could be used to help to improve treatment in the ICU in the future.
Researchers and healthcare providers also sometimes measure the galvanic skin response as part of biofeedback therapy.Biofeedback therapyis a process that involves measuring the body’s physiological responses, such as heart rate, breathing, temperature, and sweating.
The person being treated gets real-time audio or visual feedback about their physiological responses. Over time, biofeedback therapy aims to gain more control over involuntary bodily functions to develop better coping skills, reduce symptoms, and treat certain conditions.
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Information about the galvanic skin response has been used to treat a number of conditions, often as an aspect of biofeedback therapy or to gather more information about particular symptoms.Researchers have used GSR data to treat and learn more about the following:
Galvanic Skin Response and EpilepsyBiofeedback therapy using data about the galvanic skin response has been found to be particularly effective in thetreatment of epilepsy. One 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that people who received biofeedback training using GSR measurements experienced a 64% reduction in seizure frequency on average.
Galvanic Skin Response and Epilepsy
Biofeedback therapy using data about the galvanic skin response has been found to be particularly effective in thetreatment of epilepsy. One 2019 systematic review and meta-analysis found that people who received biofeedback training using GSR measurements experienced a 64% reduction in seizure frequency on average.
Summary
The galvanic skin response (GSR), sometimes known as skin conductance or electrodermal activity (EDA), refers to changes in the skin’s electrical and sweat gland activity in response to physiological arousal (activation). It is typically measured with sensors placed on the skin, often as part of a wearable device.
In some cases, the galvanic skin response is measured in order to gather data for medical research. Galvanic skin response signals are also measured as part of biofeedback therapy. GSR biofeedback can help to treat conditions like epilepsy, schizophrenia, dementia, andanxiety, among others.
27 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Galvanic skin response.American Psychological Association.Skin conductance.Nagai Y, Jones CI, Sen A.Galvanic skin response (GSR)/electrodermal/skin conductance biofeedback on epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2019;10:377. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00377Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Galactivator FAQ.Wang CA, Baird T, Huang J, Coutinho JD, Brien DC, Munoz DP.Arousal effects on pupil size, heart rate, and skin conductance in an emotional face task.Front Neurol. 2018;9:1029. doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01029American Psychological Association.Arousal.Schote AB, Dietrich K, Linden AE, et al.Real sweating in a virtual stress environment: investigation of the stress reactivity in people with primary focal hyperhidrosis.PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272247. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272247Mathôt S.Pupillometry: psychology, physiology, and function.J Cogn. 2018;1(1):16. doi:10.5334/joc.18American Psychological Association.Autonomic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Parasympathetic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Sympathetic nervous system.Sanchez-Comas A, Synnes K, Molina-Estren D, Troncoso-Palacio A, Comas-González Z.Correlation analysis of different measurement places of galvanic skin response in test groups facing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.Sensors (Basel). 2021;21(12):4210. doi:10.3390/s21124210Mazgelytė E, Rekienė V, Dereškevičiūtė E, et al.Effects of virtual reality-based relaxation techniques on psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(12):1729. doi:10.3390/healthcare9121729Altıntop ÇG, Latifoğlu F, Akın AK, İleri R, Yazar MA.Analysis of consciousness level using galvanic skin response during therapeutic effect.J Med Syst. 2020;45(1):1. doi:10.1007/s10916-020-01677-5American Psychological Association.Biofeedback and applied psychophysiology.Nagai Y.Autonomic biofeedback therapy in epilepsy.Epilepsy Res. 2019;153:76-78. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.005Kondo K, Noonan KM, Freeman M, Ayers C, Morasco BJ, Kansagara D.Efficacy of biofeedback for medical conditions: an evidence map.J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34(12):2883-2893. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05215-zJo S, Sung D, Kim S, Koo J.A review of wearable biosensors for sweat analysis.Biomed Eng Lett. 2021;11(2):117-129. doi:10.1007/s13534-021-00191-yElavally S, Ramamurthy MT, Subash J, Meleveedu R, Venkatasalu MR.Effect of nurse-led home-based biofeedback intervention on the blood pressure levels among patients with hypertension: pretest-posttest study.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(9):4833-4840. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_210_20Najafpour E, Asl-Aminabadi N, Nuroloyuni S, Jamali Z, Shirazi S.Can galvanic skin conductance be used as an objective indicator of children’s anxiety in the dental setting?J Clin Exp Dent. 2017;9(3):e377-e383. doi:10.4317/jced.53419Markiewicz R, Dobrowolska B.Cognitive and social rehabilitation in schizophrenia-from neurophysiology to neuromodulation. Pilot study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4034. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114034Gramlich MA, Smolenski DJ, Norr AM, et al.Psychophysiology during exposure to trauma memories: comparative effects of virtual reality and imaginal exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(6):626-638. doi:10.1002/da.23141Hirt J, Ballhausen N, Hering A, Kliegel M, Beer T, Meyer G.Social robot interventions for people with dementia: a systematic review on effects and quality of reporting.J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(2):773-792. doi:10.3233/JAD-200347Gray SN.An overview of the use of neurofeedback biofeedback for the treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury in military and civilian populations.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(4):215-219. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1220Chrousos GP, Boschiero D.Clinical validation of a non-invasive electrodermal biofeedback device useful for reducing chronic perceived pain and systemic inflammation.Hormones (Athens). 2019;18(2):207-213. doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00098-5Białkowska J, Juranek J, Wojtkiewicz J.Behavioral medicine methods in treatment of somatic conditions.Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:5076516. doi:10.1155/2020/5076516Martin RFK, Leppink-Shands P, Tlachac M, et al.The use of immersive environments for the early detection and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Digit Health. 2021;2:576076. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2020.576076
27 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Galvanic skin response.American Psychological Association.Skin conductance.Nagai Y, Jones CI, Sen A.Galvanic skin response (GSR)/electrodermal/skin conductance biofeedback on epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2019;10:377. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00377Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Galactivator FAQ.Wang CA, Baird T, Huang J, Coutinho JD, Brien DC, Munoz DP.Arousal effects on pupil size, heart rate, and skin conductance in an emotional face task.Front Neurol. 2018;9:1029. doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01029American Psychological Association.Arousal.Schote AB, Dietrich K, Linden AE, et al.Real sweating in a virtual stress environment: investigation of the stress reactivity in people with primary focal hyperhidrosis.PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272247. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272247Mathôt S.Pupillometry: psychology, physiology, and function.J Cogn. 2018;1(1):16. doi:10.5334/joc.18American Psychological Association.Autonomic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Parasympathetic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Sympathetic nervous system.Sanchez-Comas A, Synnes K, Molina-Estren D, Troncoso-Palacio A, Comas-González Z.Correlation analysis of different measurement places of galvanic skin response in test groups facing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.Sensors (Basel). 2021;21(12):4210. doi:10.3390/s21124210Mazgelytė E, Rekienė V, Dereškevičiūtė E, et al.Effects of virtual reality-based relaxation techniques on psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(12):1729. doi:10.3390/healthcare9121729Altıntop ÇG, Latifoğlu F, Akın AK, İleri R, Yazar MA.Analysis of consciousness level using galvanic skin response during therapeutic effect.J Med Syst. 2020;45(1):1. doi:10.1007/s10916-020-01677-5American Psychological Association.Biofeedback and applied psychophysiology.Nagai Y.Autonomic biofeedback therapy in epilepsy.Epilepsy Res. 2019;153:76-78. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.005Kondo K, Noonan KM, Freeman M, Ayers C, Morasco BJ, Kansagara D.Efficacy of biofeedback for medical conditions: an evidence map.J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34(12):2883-2893. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05215-zJo S, Sung D, Kim S, Koo J.A review of wearable biosensors for sweat analysis.Biomed Eng Lett. 2021;11(2):117-129. doi:10.1007/s13534-021-00191-yElavally S, Ramamurthy MT, Subash J, Meleveedu R, Venkatasalu MR.Effect of nurse-led home-based biofeedback intervention on the blood pressure levels among patients with hypertension: pretest-posttest study.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(9):4833-4840. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_210_20Najafpour E, Asl-Aminabadi N, Nuroloyuni S, Jamali Z, Shirazi S.Can galvanic skin conductance be used as an objective indicator of children’s anxiety in the dental setting?J Clin Exp Dent. 2017;9(3):e377-e383. doi:10.4317/jced.53419Markiewicz R, Dobrowolska B.Cognitive and social rehabilitation in schizophrenia-from neurophysiology to neuromodulation. Pilot study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4034. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114034Gramlich MA, Smolenski DJ, Norr AM, et al.Psychophysiology during exposure to trauma memories: comparative effects of virtual reality and imaginal exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(6):626-638. doi:10.1002/da.23141Hirt J, Ballhausen N, Hering A, Kliegel M, Beer T, Meyer G.Social robot interventions for people with dementia: a systematic review on effects and quality of reporting.J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(2):773-792. doi:10.3233/JAD-200347Gray SN.An overview of the use of neurofeedback biofeedback for the treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury in military and civilian populations.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(4):215-219. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1220Chrousos GP, Boschiero D.Clinical validation of a non-invasive electrodermal biofeedback device useful for reducing chronic perceived pain and systemic inflammation.Hormones (Athens). 2019;18(2):207-213. doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00098-5Białkowska J, Juranek J, Wojtkiewicz J.Behavioral medicine methods in treatment of somatic conditions.Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:5076516. doi:10.1155/2020/5076516Martin RFK, Leppink-Shands P, Tlachac M, et al.The use of immersive environments for the early detection and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Digit Health. 2021;2:576076. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2020.576076
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Galvanic skin response.American Psychological Association.Skin conductance.Nagai Y, Jones CI, Sen A.Galvanic skin response (GSR)/electrodermal/skin conductance biofeedback on epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2019;10:377. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00377Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Galactivator FAQ.Wang CA, Baird T, Huang J, Coutinho JD, Brien DC, Munoz DP.Arousal effects on pupil size, heart rate, and skin conductance in an emotional face task.Front Neurol. 2018;9:1029. doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01029American Psychological Association.Arousal.Schote AB, Dietrich K, Linden AE, et al.Real sweating in a virtual stress environment: investigation of the stress reactivity in people with primary focal hyperhidrosis.PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272247. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272247Mathôt S.Pupillometry: psychology, physiology, and function.J Cogn. 2018;1(1):16. doi:10.5334/joc.18American Psychological Association.Autonomic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Parasympathetic nervous system.American Psychological Association.Sympathetic nervous system.Sanchez-Comas A, Synnes K, Molina-Estren D, Troncoso-Palacio A, Comas-González Z.Correlation analysis of different measurement places of galvanic skin response in test groups facing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.Sensors (Basel). 2021;21(12):4210. doi:10.3390/s21124210Mazgelytė E, Rekienė V, Dereškevičiūtė E, et al.Effects of virtual reality-based relaxation techniques on psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(12):1729. doi:10.3390/healthcare9121729Altıntop ÇG, Latifoğlu F, Akın AK, İleri R, Yazar MA.Analysis of consciousness level using galvanic skin response during therapeutic effect.J Med Syst. 2020;45(1):1. doi:10.1007/s10916-020-01677-5American Psychological Association.Biofeedback and applied psychophysiology.Nagai Y.Autonomic biofeedback therapy in epilepsy.Epilepsy Res. 2019;153:76-78. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.005Kondo K, Noonan KM, Freeman M, Ayers C, Morasco BJ, Kansagara D.Efficacy of biofeedback for medical conditions: an evidence map.J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34(12):2883-2893. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05215-zJo S, Sung D, Kim S, Koo J.A review of wearable biosensors for sweat analysis.Biomed Eng Lett. 2021;11(2):117-129. doi:10.1007/s13534-021-00191-yElavally S, Ramamurthy MT, Subash J, Meleveedu R, Venkatasalu MR.Effect of nurse-led home-based biofeedback intervention on the blood pressure levels among patients with hypertension: pretest-posttest study.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(9):4833-4840. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_210_20Najafpour E, Asl-Aminabadi N, Nuroloyuni S, Jamali Z, Shirazi S.Can galvanic skin conductance be used as an objective indicator of children’s anxiety in the dental setting?J Clin Exp Dent. 2017;9(3):e377-e383. doi:10.4317/jced.53419Markiewicz R, Dobrowolska B.Cognitive and social rehabilitation in schizophrenia-from neurophysiology to neuromodulation. Pilot study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4034. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114034Gramlich MA, Smolenski DJ, Norr AM, et al.Psychophysiology during exposure to trauma memories: comparative effects of virtual reality and imaginal exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(6):626-638. doi:10.1002/da.23141Hirt J, Ballhausen N, Hering A, Kliegel M, Beer T, Meyer G.Social robot interventions for people with dementia: a systematic review on effects and quality of reporting.J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(2):773-792. doi:10.3233/JAD-200347Gray SN.An overview of the use of neurofeedback biofeedback for the treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury in military and civilian populations.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(4):215-219. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1220Chrousos GP, Boschiero D.Clinical validation of a non-invasive electrodermal biofeedback device useful for reducing chronic perceived pain and systemic inflammation.Hormones (Athens). 2019;18(2):207-213. doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00098-5Białkowska J, Juranek J, Wojtkiewicz J.Behavioral medicine methods in treatment of somatic conditions.Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:5076516. doi:10.1155/2020/5076516Martin RFK, Leppink-Shands P, Tlachac M, et al.The use of immersive environments for the early detection and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Digit Health. 2021;2:576076. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2020.576076
American Psychological Association.Galvanic skin response.
American Psychological Association.Skin conductance.
Nagai Y, Jones CI, Sen A.Galvanic skin response (GSR)/electrodermal/skin conductance biofeedback on epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Neurol. 2019;10:377. doi:10.3389/fneur.2019.00377
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Galactivator FAQ.
Wang CA, Baird T, Huang J, Coutinho JD, Brien DC, Munoz DP.Arousal effects on pupil size, heart rate, and skin conductance in an emotional face task.Front Neurol. 2018;9:1029. doi:10.3389/fneur.2018.01029
American Psychological Association.Arousal.
Schote AB, Dietrich K, Linden AE, et al.Real sweating in a virtual stress environment: investigation of the stress reactivity in people with primary focal hyperhidrosis.PLoS One. 2022;17(8):e0272247. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272247
Mathôt S.Pupillometry: psychology, physiology, and function.J Cogn. 2018;1(1):16. doi:10.5334/joc.18
American Psychological Association.Autonomic nervous system.
American Psychological Association.Parasympathetic nervous system.
American Psychological Association.Sympathetic nervous system.
Sanchez-Comas A, Synnes K, Molina-Estren D, Troncoso-Palacio A, Comas-González Z.Correlation analysis of different measurement places of galvanic skin response in test groups facing pleasant and unpleasant stimuli.Sensors (Basel). 2021;21(12):4210. doi:10.3390/s21124210
Mazgelytė E, Rekienė V, Dereškevičiūtė E, et al.Effects of virtual reality-based relaxation techniques on psychological, physiological, and biochemical stress indicators.Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(12):1729. doi:10.3390/healthcare9121729
Altıntop ÇG, Latifoğlu F, Akın AK, İleri R, Yazar MA.Analysis of consciousness level using galvanic skin response during therapeutic effect.J Med Syst. 2020;45(1):1. doi:10.1007/s10916-020-01677-5
American Psychological Association.Biofeedback and applied psychophysiology.
Nagai Y.Autonomic biofeedback therapy in epilepsy.Epilepsy Res. 2019;153:76-78. doi:10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.02.005
Kondo K, Noonan KM, Freeman M, Ayers C, Morasco BJ, Kansagara D.Efficacy of biofeedback for medical conditions: an evidence map.J Gen Intern Med. 2019;34(12):2883-2893. doi:10.1007/s11606-019-05215-z
Jo S, Sung D, Kim S, Koo J.A review of wearable biosensors for sweat analysis.Biomed Eng Lett. 2021;11(2):117-129. doi:10.1007/s13534-021-00191-y
Elavally S, Ramamurthy MT, Subash J, Meleveedu R, Venkatasalu MR.Effect of nurse-led home-based biofeedback intervention on the blood pressure levels among patients with hypertension: pretest-posttest study.J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(9):4833-4840. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_210_20
Najafpour E, Asl-Aminabadi N, Nuroloyuni S, Jamali Z, Shirazi S.Can galvanic skin conductance be used as an objective indicator of children’s anxiety in the dental setting?J Clin Exp Dent. 2017;9(3):e377-e383. doi:10.4317/jced.53419
Markiewicz R, Dobrowolska B.Cognitive and social rehabilitation in schizophrenia-from neurophysiology to neuromodulation. Pilot study.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(11):4034. doi:10.3390/ijerph17114034
Gramlich MA, Smolenski DJ, Norr AM, et al.Psychophysiology during exposure to trauma memories: comparative effects of virtual reality and imaginal exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder.Depress Anxiety. 2021;38(6):626-638. doi:10.1002/da.23141
Hirt J, Ballhausen N, Hering A, Kliegel M, Beer T, Meyer G.Social robot interventions for people with dementia: a systematic review on effects and quality of reporting.J Alzheimers Dis. 2021;79(2):773-792. doi:10.3233/JAD-200347
Gray SN.An overview of the use of neurofeedback biofeedback for the treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury in military and civilian populations.Med Acupunct. 2017;29(4):215-219. doi:10.1089/acu.2017.1220
Chrousos GP, Boschiero D.Clinical validation of a non-invasive electrodermal biofeedback device useful for reducing chronic perceived pain and systemic inflammation.Hormones (Athens). 2019;18(2):207-213. doi:10.1007/s42000-019-00098-5
Białkowska J, Juranek J, Wojtkiewicz J.Behavioral medicine methods in treatment of somatic conditions.Biomed Res Int. 2020;2020:5076516. doi:10.1155/2020/5076516
Martin RFK, Leppink-Shands P, Tlachac M, et al.The use of immersive environments for the early detection and treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Digit Health. 2021;2:576076. doi:10.3389/fdgth.2020.576076
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