A Comparison Between Commercially Available Electrode Gels and Purpose‐Made Gel, in the Measurement of Electrodermal Activity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite general agreement that a standardised procedure is desirable for the measurement of electrodermal activity, several types of electrode gel are in common use. In this study, 20 volunteers listened to a series of tones while skin conductance was measured at four sites using four different gels, namely K‐Y Jelly, Beckman, Neptic, and purpose‐made 0.05M NaCl in methyl cellulose. Prestimulus conductance level, response amplitude, change in conductance level, response latency, and response probability were measured. Analysis of variance showed a significant between‐gels effect for prestimulus conductance levels, with Beckman and Neptic giving higher levels than K‐Y Jelly or 0.05M, as predicted. There were no between‐gels effects for the other variables. There were no effects due to placements or channels. The results are discussed in relation to the theoretical requirements of electrode gels used for measuring electrodermal activity.