EDA & Emotional Tools: Unlocking Deeper Insights into Human Emotions
Researchers have made significant strides in understanding human emotions by combining Electrodermal Activity (EDA) measurements with emotional valence assessment tools. This multi-modal approach offers deeper insights into both emotional intensity and valence.
EDA, which measures skin conductance derived from microscopic sweat changes on the skin's surface, has proven to be a robust indicator of underlying emotional arousal in behaviour research. Skin Conductance Responses (SCR) are directly associated with emotional arousal.
Dr. Mara Mather, a prominent researcher, has contributed significantly to understanding stress and emotions in humans through her work on EDA and SCR. Her research has shown that EDA peaks, sudden shifts in phasic activity above tonic activity, provide quantitative input into the level of emotional intensity during an experiment. However, while more peaks indicate greater intensity, the direction of the emotion (valence) cannot be determined solely from EDA. This is where the combination with emotional valence tools comes into play.
EDA reflects the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which is dependent on both physiological and emotional activation. It can detect Event-Related Skin Conductance Responses (ER-SCR) that occur in response to stimuli, as well as Nonspecific Skin Conductance Responses (NS-SCR) that are not stimulus-related.
The integration of EDA with tools that assess emotional valence offers a comprehensive understanding of human emotions. While EDA quantifies emotional intensity, the combined approach helps determine the direction of the emotion. This multi-modal approach, pioneered by researchers like Dr. Mara Mather, is expected to advance our understanding of human behaviour and emotions.
