ELECTRODERMAL CORRELATES OF HYPERACTIVITY IN CHILDREN

Stimulant drugs, which were administered to one group of hyperkinetic children, tended to raise basal level conductance and non-specific GSR activity toward the levels of normal children.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Basal skin conductance, non‐specific GSRs, and specific GSRs were studied during 2 experimental sessions with two groups of 12 hyperkinetic children each and a group of 12 matched normal controls. Hyperkinetic children were found to have lower basal skin conductance, fewer and smaller non‐specific GSRs, and smaller specific GSRs than those of normal children. Stimulant drugs, which were administered to one group of hyperkinetic children, tended to raise basal level conductance and non‐specific GSR activity toward the levels of normal children. A tentative neurophysiological hypothesis is offered to account for these data as well as the clinical observations that stimulant drugs are effective in the treatment of hyperkinetic children.