Outside of facial expression, what are the actual physiological measures that correlate with emotional response. The first thing most of us think of involve a Polygraph. While a Polygraph can be useful, it's main focus is on detection of stress or arousal (like in a Fight or Flight response, only more subtle). So, a Polygraph can determine areas that elicit a stress or arousal response in a subject but they are not really designed to determine the actual emotional response of a subject. In addition

Current theories on emotional response and categorization focus on 2 dimensions: Arousal and Valance.

Distinguish between 4 emotional states:

picture

Sympathetic – Fight or Flight

Parasympathetic – Rest and Digest

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic responses to emotion (present as a chart)

Sympathetic Responses

• Heart rate increases
• Respiration increases
• Blood Pressure increases
• Skin conductance decreases
• Decreased circulation to extremities

Parasympathetic Responses

• Decreased Heart Rate
• Decreased Blood Pressure
• Decreased Respiration
• Decreased skin conductance
• Increased circulation to extremities