Validity of electrodermal activity-based measures of sympathetic nervous system activity from a wrist-worn device

Measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) on the wrist with the use of dry electrodes is a promising method to help identify person-specific stressors during prolonged recordings in daily life. While the feasibility of this method has been demonstrated, detailed testing of validity of such ambulatory E...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of psychophysiology 2021-10, Vol.168, p.52-64
Main Authors: van der Mee, D.J., Gevonden, M.J., Westerink, J.H.D.M., de Geus, E.J.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ambulatory assessment
Non-specific SCRs
Pre-ejection period
Skin conductance level
Stress
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Summary:Measuring electrodermal activity (EDA) on the wrist with the use of dry electrodes is a promising method to help identify person-specific stressors during prolonged recordings in daily life. While the feasibility of this method has been demonstrated, detailed testing of validity of such ambulatory EDA is scarce. In a controlled laboratory study, we examine SCL and ns.SCR derived from wrist-based dry electrodes (Philips DTI) and palm-based wet electrodes (VU-AMS) in 112 healthy adults (57% females, mean age = 22.3, SD = 3.4) across 26 different conditions involving mental stressors or physical activities. Changes in these EDA measures were compared to changes in the Pre-ejection period (PEP) and stressor-induced changes in affect. Absolute SCL and ns.SCR frequency were lower at the wrist compared to the palm. Wrist-based ns.SCR and palm-based ns.SCR and SCL responded directionally consistent with our experimental manipulation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. Average within-subject correlations between palm-based and wrist-based EDA were significant but modest (r SCL = 0.31; r ns.SCR = 0.42). Changes in ns.SCR frequency at the palm (r = −0.44) and the wrist (r = −0.36) were correlated with changes in PEP. Both palm-based and wrist based EDA predicted changes in affect (6.5%–14.5%). Our data suggest that wrist-based ns.SCR frequency is a useful addition to the psychophysiologist's toolkit, at least for epidemiology-sized ambulatory studies of changes in sympathetic activity during daily life. •Non-specific skin conductance responses are superior to skin conductance level.•Performance of wrist responses in many aspects comparable to palm responses•Could be used in epidemiology-sized studies with prolonged recording for months
ISSN:0167-8760
1872-7697
DOI:10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2021.08.003