Sex differences in finger temperature response to music

Author(s): Kadish, R.

Journal/Book: Int J Psychophysiol. 1991; 11: 295-8.

Abstract: A finding of significant sex differences in finger temperature responses to stimuli would have implications for a variety of situations in which finger temperature changes in combination with other psychophysiological measures are employed as indicators of psychological and/or physiological states. In the present study, each subject listened to one of two distinct musical selections for 3-minutes and 40-seconds after being allowed to adapt for one of five durations ranging from 4 to 20 minutes. Females' finger temperatures decreased more or increased less than did males' finger temperatures. This finding held no matter which music was played and was true for all but the shortest adaptation duration. Control data indicated that the sex difference would not have occurred in the absence of the music, and thus the results suggest that females' finger temperatures decrease more than males' only when stimulation occurs. Possible causes of the sex difference are discussed as well as possible implications for studies in which finger temperature is employed as a dependent variable.

Keyword(s): Adaptation, Physiological physiology; Emotions physiology; Sex Characteristics Fingers physiology; Music psychology; Skin Temperature physiology Comparative Study; Female; Human; Male

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