Skin Conductance in the Human Neonate1,2

112 newborns between the ages of birth and 96 hours were tested for level of skin conductance. Two groups were evaluated: (a) a serial group consisting of 10 males and 10 females who were tested once per day within each of their first four days of life; and (b) an independent group which was tested only once and then distributed according to age into groups as a match and control against the possibility of artifact produced in serial testing of the first group. Both groups showed significant increases in conductance over the first four days of life for the palmar, plantar, and calf regions, and the serial group showed a significant between-days positional rank correlation. Possible interpretations of the phenomena are suggested.