Electrodermal response patterns in neurological patients with disturbed vigilance.

In 18 neurological patients with severely disturbed vigilance and 18 healthy subjects, electrodermal responses to acoustic stimuli were elicited. There were substantial differences between both groups in the temporal patterning of electrodermal responses. Patients reacted significantly less on initial trials than healthy subjects and exhibited their maximal responses on later trials. This response pattern is interpreted as reflecting changes in activation.