Electrochemical skin conductance

Electrochemical Skin Conductance

Electrochemical skin conductance (pronunciation: /ɪˌlɛktrəʊkɪˈmɪkəl skɪn kənˈdʌktəns/), also known as ESC, is a measure of the sweat gland activity in the skin, which is often used in neurological and psychophysiological research. The term is derived from the Greek words "electron" meaning amber (a reference to static electricity), "chemia" meaning the art of transmuting metals, and "conductance" from the Latin "conductus" meaning to lead or guide.

Overview

Electrochemical skin conductance is a non-invasive method of assessing the function of small nerve fibers in the skin. It is based on the principle that sweat glands are innervated by small nerve fibers, and their activity can be measured by the conductance of a small electrical current across the skin. This measurement is often used in the diagnosis and monitoring of neuropathy and other conditions affecting the nervous system.

Measurement

The measurement of electrochemical skin conductance is typically performed using a device that applies a small, safe electrical current to the skin and measures the resulting conductance. The conductance is influenced by the amount of sweat produced by the sweat glands, which in turn is controlled by the small nerve fibers. Therefore, changes in electrochemical skin conductance can indicate changes in the function of these nerve fibers.

Clinical Applications

Electrochemical skin conductance has been used in a variety of clinical applications. It is often used in the diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy, a condition in which the small nerve fibers are damaged due to high blood sugar levels. It can also be used to monitor the progression of this condition and the effectiveness of treatment. Other conditions that can be assessed using electrochemical skin conductance include autonomic neuropathy, hyperhidrosis, and certain anxiety disorders.

See Also

• Galvanic skin response
• Sudomotor function
• Autonomic nervous system

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Electrochemical skin conductance
• Wikipedia's article - Electrochemical skin conductance

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