Galvanic skin response sensor(GSR)
Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) Sensor measures the psycho-galvanic response. This response
produces a change in skin conductivity during periods of stress, excitement or shock. The
changes in skin conductance are measured by the sensor in micro Siemens (µS).
Introduction:
GSR:
The galvanic skin response refers to changes in sweat gland activity that are reflective of the
intensity of our emotional state, otherwise known as emotional stimulation.
Our level of emotional stimulation changes in response to the environment we are in if
something is scary, threatening, joyful, or otherwise emotionally relevant, then the subsequent
change in emotional response that we experience also increases eccrine sweat gland activity.
Research has shown how this is linked to emotional stimulation.
Working:
It measures sweat gland activity due emotional stimulation. The device is based on the principle
that resistance of skin varies in accordance with our emotional states. If the stress level is high
the skin offers less resistance, and if the body is relaxed the skin resistance is high. The low
resistance of skin during high stress is due to increase in blood supply to the skin. Two
electrodes are attached to the body, when there is more sweat activity. Then the signal is sent
through the electrode to the wire that passes information to GSR device.
Figure 1: GSR device
The skin resistance varies with sweat gland activity, i.e. the greater sweat gland activity, the
more perspiration, and thus, less skin resistance. So to measure GSR, we take advantage of the
electrical properties of the skin. Actually GSR measures conductance not resistance.
Conductance is the opposite of resistance and is measured in Siemens.
Conductance = 1 / Resistance
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The conductance makes the signal explanation easier, since the greater the sweat gland activity,
the higher the skin conductance.
The measure of GSR signal is based on a constant voltage system. The GSR sensor provide a
constant voltage usually 0.5 V to the two electrodes that are in contact with the skin. The circuit
also contains a very small resistance compared to the skin resistance that is in series with the
voltage supplier and the electrodes.
The skin conductance is measured by applying Ohm’s law
Voltage = Intensity x Resistance = Intensity/Conductance.
As the voltage (V) is kept constant, skin conductance (C) can be calculated by measuring the
current (I) flow through the electrodes. With this setup, any fluctuation in the current flow is
due to a change in the electrical properties of the skin, and therefore in the sweat gland
activity. The voltage applied to the electrodes is very small, and the current that can flow
through them is very low and not noticeable.
Figure 2: Measurement of GSR
When the GSR sensor monitors skin conductivity between two electrodes attached to 2 fingers
of one hand. The data is either stored within the device to be later uploaded, is transmitted
wirelessly to a computer system, or the signal is sent through a further wired connection to a
computer. Different GSR sensors allow different means of transmission
While the subject is at rest, a steady background signal will be monitored by on the computer
screen. The subject may then be stimulated in different ways and the degree of stimulation
measured graphically. The sensor must be used with Mini data interface and Logger Pro
software that take 0-5V signal can also be used.
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Block diagram:
2 Data
Amplifier Digitizer Display
Electrodes transmitter
Figure 3: Block diagram
Applications of GSR:
Psychological research:
In current practice, psychologists utilize GSR recordings to identify emotional responses to
different kinds of stimuli and how these responses are affected by:
Stimulus characteristics (color, shape, duration of stimulus presentation) or relaxing effect
of different colors can be assessed, as well as the effects of various patterns and images.
Social expectations (“girls like pink clothes”, for example)
Changes in skin conductivity during various physical stimuli.
Changes in skin conductivity to mental stimuli (lie detector studies).
Clinical research & psychotherapy:
Patients suffering from psychological disorders such as eating disorders, fears or post-
distressing stress disease show a heightened level of anxiety and emotional stimulation when
opposed with shock reminders.
For example, a patient suffering from arachnophobia will most certainly respond with severe
anxiety symptoms when exposed to hairy spiders, cold sweat, hot flushes, vibrating, etc. GSR
can be used quite effectively in the assessment of the severity of such psychological disorders.
The GSR sensor can be used in bio-feedback studies in which the subject learns to control
emotional state voluntarily by using relaxation techniques. This is often done with closed eyes.
The voltage signal declines as skin conductivity decreases with relaxation.
Media & advertising testing:
Media research utilizes GSR measurements to assess how well TV ads, trailers or other
emotional content such as full-length shows perform.
The recording of emotional stimulation can help to easily identify main frames in the stimulus
material or individual scenes that don’t demand the target audience as expected and seek out
those who just got it right.
Consumer neuroscience & marketing:
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Targeting consumer preferences is the key to successful marketing. GSR can help you find out
what your customers really excited about. GSR can be used to track the differences in emotional
responses to products with high consumer interest, however only subtle differences in terms of
appearance and quality.
With the help of GSR recordings, exactly these decision processes can be examined in more
detail in order to enhance products, assess market segments or identify target audiences.
Usability testing & UX design:
Navigating through websites should be a fun, effortless experience with frustration levels being
kept as low as possible. Monitoring GSR can provide unfiltered insights into user stress levels
during the interaction with new website content, user interfaces, and online forms.
Whenever visitors encounter roadblocks or get lost in complex sub-menus you will certainly
see increased stress levels reflected in stereotypic GSR activation patterns. Those can be
leveraged effectively to improve site navigation and content display.
Advantages or Features:
Simple and easy to use electrode based system for measurements of skin conductivity.
Optional Data interface and software available.
Manual with suggested experiments included.
Cost effective.
Portable.
Power efficient.
Limitation:
Positive and negative both stimuli cause an increase in excitement and in an increase in
skin conductance. The GSR signal is therefore not representative of the type of emotion,
but the intensity of it.
The output signal is very weak so is has to be amplified.
Range and accuracy:
The sensor has 2 analog outputs, a high range (40 µS) and a low range (5 µS). The 5 µS output
can be offset with a potentiometer to permit high sensitivity measurements over the entire range
from 0 to 40 µS. Its Accuracy is 0.5% for Full Scale, or better. (For Q-S222 GSR Sensor)
Specification:
Power Supply: 9V, 560mA
Resolution: 40uS Range = 0.0097uS, 5uS Range = 0.0012uS
Offset: 5uS Range can be offset from 0 to 40 uS
Gain: System Gain is 1980 and 15840 for 40uS and 5uS
Cut-off Frequency fc High= 7.2 Hz
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