At a link supplied recently here: http://www.toolsforexploration.com/TFE30.HTM
,I see they have two portable GSR machines for under $100 each. This strikes me as likely to be less expense than going someplace to pay someone to test you using their "professional" GSR machine.
Anyone here have any experience or any suggestions about these machines?
BTW, I have one of the old Radio Shack $14.95 GSR Blue plastic box units with the Velcro finger electrodes. It probably belongs in a museum by now :-)
I've only tried to use it a few times, but I found the high-pitched tone very distracting/troubling/stressfull. Something like the first unit shown at the site above with a series of LEDs would seem much more condusive to relaxing than a wild-person-up/down tone.
Walt, you are right about GSR having FAST response. The R/S Blue Box unit can go from quiet to a shriek in about a second, with just a single un-alpha-like thought!
RocketHealer Jim++
Hey! I have one of those blue boxes, too....
Posted by trish on October 09, 1998 at 10:20:19:
In Reply to: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Jim Marconnet on October 08, 1998 at 18:08:16:
and you're right, it's very stressful to use it. My friend lent it to me awhile back, but I can't use it comfortably, so I really haven't experimented too much. It seems like it CAUSES more stress than helping deal with it!! Yikes!
Lucky for me, my optometrist will be testing me when we can schedule the time - I don't think he'll charge me much, if anything...
trish
Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting?
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 09, 1998 at 12:17:26:
In Reply to: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Jim Marconnet on October 08, 1998 at 18:08:16:
Dear Jim,
The under $100 machines are MUCH less sensitive AND have a lot fewer options for those "bothered" by the sound (from volume control to just having a flashing light, etc.)
The problem with less sensitive machines is that those who can find their way with them could probably do without them. It is similar to following a winding path at night with a flashlight. Without ANY GSR, it is like walking in the dark. With the cheap machines, it is like having a flashlight with nearly dead batteries. With the $300 machines it is like having a bright light: the instant you are ON the path it lets you know.
Walt
Follow Ups:
Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting?
Posted by Vicki on October 09, 1998 at 13:48:48:
In Reply to: Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Walt Stoll on October 09, 1998 at 12:17:26:
How does one purchase a $300 machine. What exactly are they called. Thank you.
Follow Ups:
Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting?
Posted by Robert McFerran on October 09, 1998 at 14:02:22:
In Reply to: Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Walt Stoll on October 09, 1998 at 12:17:26:
Walt and Jim,
I have the $65 GSR-2 and a $2,200 machine that hooks into my computer that measures brain wave and EMG function.
I'm pleased to report that the cheapo GSR-2 brings me right into an alpha-theta state every time. In fact I use it as an 'induction' device when I am using the $2,200 machine. I find that it helps get me to alpha-theta within minutes where if I don't use it my mind might wander around a bit longer before falling into alpha-theta.
I've tried it with other folks and happily the GSR-2 seems to get them to that point too. If I had to do it again I would have bought the GSR-2 and still have the $2,200 in my pocket.
Buy the GSR-2 first and work with it for a month and THEN find someone with a machine that actually measures the brain waves directly to confirm you are getting where you want to go.
Bob
Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting?
Posted by Sara on October 09, 1998 at 17:10:42:
In Reply to: Re: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Vicki on October 09, 1998 at 13:48:48:
Vicki,
I got a GSR unit about 3 months ago from the following web site:
www.bio-medical.com
It's not a $300 model, but it works for me.
Sara
I take it there is little interest in GSR Machines
Posted by Jim Marconnet on October 12, 1998 at 07:12:02:
In Reply to: GSR Machines under $100..Cheaper than renting? posted by Jim Marconnet on October 08, 1998 at 18:08:16:
Just a comment:
I was surprised as how few people commented on this subject, so I take it that there is very little interest in GSR machines by people in this particular "community".
That surprises me, since they seem to me to be an easy, relatively inexpensive feedback tool, whether the inexpensive ones are sensitive "enough" or not.
Or perhaps the Gadgeteers convene somewhere else???
RocketHealer Jim++
Follow Ups:
No, there is interest in GSR Machines
Posted by Pete R on October 12, 1998 at 16:30:05:
In Reply to: I take it there is little interest in GSR Machines posted by Jim Marconnet on October 12, 1998 at 07:12:02:
Hello. Maybe the acronym GSR didn't get through to people.
An acronym should always be spelled out once.
I would be interested in these machines and was wondering
if Galvanic Skin Response (GSR) could be done with my
simple multimeter (ohm meter). It seems like what these
companies may do is take a simple ohm meter and
map the range of a typical human skin resistance
into "relaxed" and "tense" scales. Is this true?
I'll give it a shot and see if I can make the skin
between my fingers increase in resistance while
I meditate.
Thanks Jim for the web site.
Pete Reinhard
Follow Ups:
Hi, Pete! So, you're gonna measure your OHMs??? :-) NMI
Posted by trish on October 12, 1998 at 16:52:08:
In Reply to: No, there is interest in GSR Machines posted by Pete R on October 12, 1998 at 16:30:05:
No Message Inside
Follow Ups:
Re: No, there is interest in GSR Machines
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 13, 1998 at 11:54:36:
In Reply to: No, there is interest in GSR Machines posted by Pete R on October 12, 1998 at 16:30:05:
Hi, Pete.
That is the way it works but I have always been too lazy to check out the specs and make one for myself. I would bet that any company would share the exact specs with you--
never considering that you might have the expertise to build your own.
Walt
A table of resistances for you!
Posted by Jim Marconnet on October 13, 1998 at 14:11:46:
In Reply to: No, there is interest in GSR Machines posted by Pete R on October 12, 1998 at 16:30:05:
On Page 37 of the original The Awakened Mind Book, there is a table that shows the following absolute resistances for ESR, which they call Electrical Skin Resistance. They don't specify exactly how it is measured, and they say there is a terrific amount of individual variability, so relative changes are much more significant than absolute numbers.
Very Tense: 20K ohms or below
Mildly Overaroused: 40-80K
Normal 100-200K:
Very Relaxed: 220-280K
Under-Aroused: 300K or above
So a higher resistance means more relaxed.
Hope this helps!
RocketHealer Jim++
Follow Ups:
Re: A table of resistances for you!
Posted by Walt Stoll on October 14, 1998 at 07:59:25:
In Reply to: A table of resistances for you! posted by Jim Marconnet on October 13, 1998 at 14:11:46:
Thanks, Jim.
You are VERY right that the most important readings are comparative and not absolute. It is the difference from the original readings IN THAT INDIVIDUAL that are important.
Walt
Very funny trish! That is exactly what I'm doin. NMI
Posted by Pete R on October 14, 1998 at 09:38:25:
In Reply to: Hi, Pete! So, you're gonna measure your OHMs??? :-) NMI posted by trish on October 12, 1998 at 16:52:08:
Very clever. Ohhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmmmm
thank you
Posted by Pete R on October 14, 1998 at 09:56:51:
In Reply to: A table of resistances for you! posted by Jim Marconnet on October 13, 1998 at 14:11:46:
Yes, these numbers will help. Of course keeping in mind
they are only relative.
(I'll have to get that book too. I hope its better than
"Mind has healer" :-)