PALMAR-DORSAL SKIN CONDUCTANCE DIFFERENCES DURING CLASSICAL CONDITIONING

ABSTRACT The sweat gland‐epidermis basis of the skin conductance response (SCR) was investigated in a study in which measurements were obtained from both the palmar and dorsal surfaces of the hand during classical conditioning. In a previous study using a long CS‐UCS interval, it was found that the palmar measurements, representing mainly the sweat gland component, gave rise to larger anticipatory conditional responses. Under the conditions of the present study (CS‐UCS interval =. 5 seconds) it was predicted on the basis of an adaptation theory that the epidermal component (dorsal measurement) would predominate and be equal to or greater than that of the sweat gland (palmar measurement). This prediction was confirmed.