H. Zimmer, Frequency and mean amplitude of spontaneous electrodermal fluctuations do not convey identical information about mental processes, Z EXP PSYCH, 47(2), 2000, pp. 129-143
The study was concerned with the question of whether the frequency and the
mean amplitude of spontaneous electrodermal fluctuations convey the same in
formation about mental processes. In order to examine this, the content and
the personal relevance of induced imaginations was varied experimentally.
The experimental manipulations followed a 2x2 factorial design for independ
ent groups (content of cells: 24 subjects each). Changes in electrodermal a
ctivity were measured as differences between the imagination and a resting
phase.
Results revealed that the two variables are not exchangeable Indicators of
mental processes. Although the two variables correlated significantly, they
responded differently to the experimental manipulations. The imagination o
f death-related contents increased the frequency of spontaneous electroderm
al fluctuations more than the imagination of neutral contents; High persona
l relevance enhanced the mean amplitude of these spontaneous fluctuations r
egardless of the imagined content;
Therefore it was concluded that the two variables have something in common
but, on the whole, do not depend on identical factors. Frequency of spontan
eous electrodermal fluctuations seems to be a reflection of covert orientin
g processes, whereas their mean amplitude seems to reflect the activity of
an appraisal system incorporating goals and past experiences. However, both
variables, seem to be, in the same way, dependent on a kind of basal activ
ation or vigilance.