One of two types of sweat glands, the eccrine glands influence electrodermal activity as measured in PDD. They are found throughout the skin surface of the body, but in highest concentration on the hands and feet. See: Handler et al. (2010)
Eccrine sweat glands are the primary sweat glands found in the human body. They are distributed across almost the entire skin surface, with a higher density on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and forehead. These glands produce sweat in response to various stimuli, such as heat, physical activity, emotional stress, or hormonal fluctuations.
Eccrine sweat gland activity refers to the process by which these glands produce and secrete sweat onto the skin surface. Sweat production helps regulate body temperature by facilitating evaporative cooling. As sweat evaporates from the skin surface, it removes heat, cooling the body.
The eccrine sweat glands are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the sympathetic branch. When the body needs to cool down or when certain emotional or physical stressors are present, the sympathetic nervous system sends signals to eccrine sweat glands to produce and release sweat. The composition of the sweat produced by eccrine glands is mainly water, with small amounts of salt, potassium, and other electrolytes. This type of sweat is generally clear and odorless, as opposed to the sweat produced by apocrine glands, which is responsible for body odor.