Stability of spontaneous electrodermal activity in the kitten.

Recordings of spontaneous electrodermal activity (EDA) were made in eight kittens, between 1 and 29 days of age, in order to obtain an estimation of reliability. Both frequency (number of SSPRs/min) and amplitude (in mV) of spontaneous electrodermal responses were computed during several waking-sleeping sessions. The results show that: (a) the reliability of records taken during the first week appears to be very low; (b) the frequency of SSPRs reaches the same level of stability as that of the adult at about three weeks of life; and (c) reliability of spontaneous EDA is considerably higher in sleeping than in waking kitten. The results are discussed in terms of ontogeny and 'trait' vs. 'state' characteristics of spontaneous EDA.