THE PSYCHO-GALVANIC REFLEX: A PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PERIPHERAL MECHANISM

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Abstract
The effects of atropine, which paralyzes the cholinergic nerve endings, and bretylium, which paralyzes the adrenergic nerve endings, on the psycho-galvanic reflex and vasoconstriction were studied in 8 volunteers. This reflex is characterized by a decrease in the electrical resistance of the skin. In 2 series of tests the skin resistance and pulse volume were simultaneously recorded from the same finger. Atropine abolished the psycho-galvanic reflex without affecting vasomotor activity while bretylium abolished vasomotor activity without affecting the reflex. The results show that the psycho-galvanic reflex is solely dependent on presecretory activity in the sweat glands.

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