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An alternative to Unibase/glycol as an effective nonhydrating electrolyte medium for the measurement of electrodermal activity
Author(s) -
Dormire Sharon L.,
Carpenter Janet S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
psychophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.661
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1469-8986
pISSN - 0048-5772
DOI - 10.1111/1469-8986.3940423
Subject(s) - psychology , skin conductance , electrolyte , volunteer , viscosity , chemistry , medicine , thermodynamics , biomedical engineering , agronomy , electrode , biology , physics
Although Unibase cream has been an effective medium for electrodermal recordings, its production has recently been discontinued. This study compared alternative media to Unibase for effectiveness. Three base creams similar to Unibase were initially compared for in vitro viscosity and effectiveness. Based upon this analysis one cream was eliminated. A volunteer sample of 6 postmenopausal women with hot flashes and 6 young women without flashes was recruited. Media were evaluated for viscosity and effectiveness of skin conductance. Results indicated that one electrolyte media produced readings within the normal range, identified true positive hot flashes, and produced few false negative readings whereas the second produced largely unreadable results with many false negative hot flashes. An appropriate substitute for Unibase as an effective electrolyte medium for measurement of electrodermal activity was identified.