Electrodermal Reactivity: An Analysis by Age and Sex |
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Authors: | Dr. Carl Eisdorfer Ph.D. M.D. Hans O. Doerr Ph.D. William Follette |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences , School of Medicine at the University of Washington , Seattle, Washington, USA;2. Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Psychology , University of Washington , USA;3. Seattle VA Medical Center , USA |
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Abstract: | Abstract Resting electrodermal levels and electrodermal response to Valsalva maneuver were measured in males and females of three age groups (young, middle-aged, old). Significant sex and age effects were observed. Young and middle-aged females had lower electrodermal resting levels than males. These differences were reversed for the young age group during a Valsalva maneuver, where the females gave larger specific responses. With old age, sex differences diminished, resting state conductance levels decreased, but the specific conductance responses to Valsalva remained relatively unchanged. Results demonstrate interactive age and sex effects on the electrodermal measure. Possible relevance of the data to sex differences in adaptation and stress response are discussed. |
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Keywords: | electroderrnal reactivity GSR reactivity GSR arousal age/sex arousal interaction age/sex adaptation |
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