LOCAL VASCULAR AND THERMAL CHANGES THAT ACCOMPANY ELECTRIC SHOCK1

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Abstract
A series of experiments was conducted to determine whether any physiological changes accompany the previously observed drop in impedance of the electrodeskin circuit during the administration of electric shock. Two concentric shock electrodes were modified by the addition of devices to measure the local temperature, blood volume, and blood pulse volume changes occurring directly under the electrode. Subjects were given a series of shocks through one of these electrodes, but not the other, while the physiological measures were recorded at both sites.No significant differences in temperature and blood volume measures occurred between shocked and unshocked electrodes. However, directly correlated with the drastic drop in impedance of the shocked circuit was a marked increase in blood pulse volume, inferred to be a manifestation of the axon reflex. The two related effects were shown to be highly localized at or near the shocked electrode, and also to be characteristic only of the passage of current through electrode‐skin junctions.