Study of the Effect of GSR Therapy on Human Electrophysiological Parameters

Type classification: this resource is a learning project.

Study of the Effect of GSR Technique on Human Electrophysiological Parameters

Educational summary of a pilot study

Learning Objectives

After studying this material, learners will be able to:

• describe the structure of a psychophysiological experiment;
• interpret EEG, HRV, respiration, GSR, EMG and eye-tracking metrics;
• understand the difference between therapeutic effects and placebo;
• identify limitations of pilot studies.

Overview

This project summarizes an experimental study investigating how physiological parameters change during an online GSR psychotherapy session compared with a placebo condition (watching a recorded session). The study was conducted by LLC “Brainstart” in collaboration with the Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, HSE University.

Research Question

How do physiological indicators (EEG, PPG, GSR, respiration, EMG, eye tracking) change across different segments of a GSR session compared with a placebo condition?

Methods (Educational Version)

Participants

• 14 adults aged 20–60
• 1–6 prior GSR sessions
• Groups:
  • real online GSR session
  • video-based placebo

Procedure

Recordings were taken across nine standardized segments:

1. Resting state, eyes closed (before)
2. Resting state, eyes open (before)
3. Eyes open, specialist visible
4. Talking segment of GSR therapy
5. Result acceptance (talking)
6. Silent segment of GSR therapy
7. Result acceptance (silent)
8. Resting state, eyes closed (after)
9. Resting state, eyes open (after)

Measurements

• EEG
• PPG (heart rate, HRV SDNN)
• Respiration rate
• Galvanic skin response
• EMG (corrugator, zygomaticus)
• Eye tracking
• PANAS and STAI (pre/post)

Statistical Analysis

• repeated-measures ANOVA
• factors: Group × Segment

Results (Educational Summary)

EEG

• ↑ frontal theta after session in GSR group
• ↑ gamma in placebo group during the silent segment (likely muscle artefacts)

Cardiac Measures

• ↑ HRV (SDNN) after session in GSR group

→ indicator of parasympathetic activation

Respiration

• reduced respiration rate in the silent segment and post-segments (GSR)

EMG

• ↑ corrugator activity in talking segment
• ↓ activity in silent segment (relaxation)

GSR and Eye Tracking

• no significant group differences

Psychological Inventories

• small trend toward reduced negative affect
• no between-group differences

Interpretation

Educational interpretation:

• theta activity is associated with emotion regulation and internal attention;
• gamma elevations in placebo likely reflect muscle artefacts;
• HRV increase and slowed breathing indicate relaxation and parasympathetic dominance;
• EMG reflects emotional effort and cognitive load;
• placebo control is essential for interpreting physiological data.

Limitations

• small sample size
• no correction for multiple comparisons in EEG
• HRV results depended on outlier removal
• sequential segment order may influence effects
• pilot exploratory design

Educational Value

This page supports learning in:

• psychophysiology,
• multimodal signal analysis,
• experimental design,
• EEG/PPG/respiration/EMG interpretation,
• placebo-controlled methodologies.

Publications and Sources

• Figshare: Study of the Effect of GSR Technique on Human Electrophysiological Parameters

Download full report (PDF)

Related Resources

• Electroencephalography
• Learning projects

Source Data

Source data and summary tables are described in the original report provided by LLC Brainstart and the Centre for Bioelectric Interfaces, HSE University.

See also

• Category:Neuropsychology

Learning projects portal.

Ideas for starting a learning project. This category is for articles listed under "Data analysis"