We have analysed the significance of acupoint resistance and some probable problems in its measurement according to biophysics theories and we believe that the skin resistance plays an important role in acupoint resistance. The Volt-ampere curve should be used to describe acupoint resistance, and only when the measurements are under the same condition should the results be compared, because acupoint resistance is nonlinear. The acupoint resistance could be detected only in vivo. In this paper is presented a simple and easy method with which we can connect acupoint into electric circle. Also reported here is how to control the circumstance condition while measurements are taken.
Acupuncture Points ; Electrophysiology ; Galvanic Skin Response ; physiology ; Humans

The inhibitory component of the skin against given electrical current, also called as the electrical skin resistance, is subject to change in response to many factors, especially pain. In order to find out more definite relationship between pain and skin resistance, one should make measurement in the state devoid of any external disturbing stimuli to get the "basal skin resistance (BSR)", which is known to be different from point to point on body surface. Also, the "active points" have more consistent BSR characters than other points and most of them share same locations with "acupuncture points" which is easy to localize accurately and repeatedly in normal subject. Therefore, the comparison of BSR of certain acupuncture points of normal subject and pain-suffering subjects is expected to be able to figure out any pain-induced BSR changes. Our measurement at 16 acupuncture points (asymmetrical 8 pairs) of 10 normal subjects showed inconsistently asymmetrical distribution of the BSR values with significant order among themselves including left SP (spleen)-6 at their lowest position, but neither the measuring system itself nor any of the 16 points was statistically reliable enough for diagnostic purposes. So the measuring device needs to be improved with after evolution, and more acupuncture points need to be explored to complete our pain-related BSR map. In addition, the meaning of the above BSR distribution pattern is waiting to be explained through such efforts.
*Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; *Galvanic Skin Response ; Human ; Male ; Reproducibility of Results ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted ; *Skin Physiology

*Acupuncture Therapy ; Autonomic Nervous System/*physiology ; *Electric Stimulation Therapy ; *Galvanic Skin Response ; Moxibustion ; *Skin Temperature

Animals ; Carps ; physiology ; Galvanic Skin Response ; drug effects ; physiology ; Skin ; cytology ; Strychnine ; pharmacology ; Synaptic Transmission ; drug effects ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo assess mental fatigue by noninvasive monitoring of the physiological signals.

METHODSThe changes in the physiological parameters including the electrodermal activity, heart rate and heart rate variability were analyzed in 14 subjects performing the reaction-time tasks when fatigue and changes in the reaction time occurred.

RESULTSThe average skin conductance level, average heart rate, and heart rate variability parameters including the total power density, percentage of the very low power density, percentage of high power density all differed significantly between the sober state and the mental fatigue state.

CONCLUSIONMonitoring the physiological parameters including the electrodermal activity, heart rate and heart rate variability is a noninvasive, effective and practical approach to mental fatigue assessment.

Adult ; Galvanic Skin Response ; physiology ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Fatigue ; physiopathology ; Reaction Time ; Young Adult

Skin-hearing aid is a new type of electronic product, which can improve hearing for deaf patients. It is different from audiphones and cochlear implant. The instrument makes use of the effect of the skin response to audio signals. The working process of the instrument is as following. Firstly, the sound signal is converted to audio signal by microphone, then through the power amplifier and booster. Then the signal is transmitted to the brain via skin by electrodes. And finally the hearing is formed. As skin-hearing aid transmits signals through the skin by the electrodes, the intensity of the skin resistance becomes the main factor influencing the response of the skin to audio signal. Skin resistance depends mainly upon the stratum corneum. This article aims to discuss the factors affecting the skin resistance, such as the thickness of the stratum corneum, hydration level of stratum corneum, the relation of audio frequency and skin resistance, and the skin resistance of acupuncture points.
Amplifiers, Electronic ; Equipment Design ; Galvanic Skin Response ; physiology ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; etiology ; rehabilitation ; Humans ; Skin Physiological Phenomena

The main purpose of this article is to determine a method of supporting the sympathetic skin response (SSR) as a sensitive clinical test. Using a non-invasive technique the SSRs are simultaneously recorded by 4 channel EMG machine. Thirty adults (10 women and 20 men, aged 19 to 46 years), normal and healthy, participated in this experiment. Not only did the latencies recorded on both palms respond faster than those on both soles, but the amplitudes measured on the palms were also higher. From these observations, one is bound to conclude that the SSR is not a segmental response but a long systemic response. More than two channel EMG recordings are desirable to see whether or not there is a lesion in any part of the SSR's pathway. Comparing the SSRs made both on the palms and soles simultaneously is recommendable in order to increase the its sensitivity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Electric Stimulation ; Electromyography/methods ; Female ; Galvanic Skin Response/*physiology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Skin/*innervation ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Sympathetic Nervous System/*physiology

Autonomic dysfunction commonly occurs in Parkinson's disease, but the pathogenesis of autonomic dysregulation remains uncertain. Autonomic functions regulating the cardiovascular system have been investigated in Parkinson's disease, but those involving the extremities has not been well demonstrated. To compare autonomic dysfunctions of the cardiovascular system with those of the extremities, we performed sympathetic skin response (SSR) and cardiovascular autonomic function tests (CAFT) - 30:15 ratio, E:I ratio, Valsalva ratio, isometric exercise test (IET) - in 37 patients with Parkinson's disease and 33 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The patients were asked to stop antiparkinsonian medications for at least 12 hours prior to the tests. SSR was measured at the right hand and foot after electrical stimulation of the right median and posterior tibial nerves. Absent SSR at either one or both extremities and CAFT beyond normal ranges were regarded as abnormal. Abnormal SSR was observed in 59% of patients, while abnormal CAFT were found in the range of 32%-81%. Patients with abnormal SSR showed more frequent and severe CAFT abnormalities than did patients with normal SSR. Among the CAFT, IET was well correlated with the SSR. The results suggest that parkinsonian sympathetic dysfunction involving either the cardiovascular system or the extremities may have the same pathophysiology.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology* ; Cardiovascular System/innervation* ; Extremities/innervation ; Female ; Galvanic Skin Response/physiology* ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; Parkinson Disease/physiopathology*