Study Overview
| Authors | Queirolo L., Facco E., Roccon A., Pistollato E., Di Fiore A., Fazia T., Bacci C., Zanette G. |
| Institution | University of Padua, Italy |
| Journal | Frontiers in Psychology |
| Year | 2025 |
| DOI | 10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1577325 |
| PubMed | PMC12226523 |
| Product | eSense Skin Response (eSense Galvanometer) |
| Participants | 20 dentists |
| Design | Controlled pre-post design with Bayesian analysis |
What was investigated?
Researchers at the University of Padua investigated whether a brief, guided hypnosis session of ten minutes can measurably alter the physiological stress response in professionally burdened dentists. The focus was on the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, measured using skin conductance response (electrodermal activity, EDA) as the primary outcome variable. The study examined hypnosis as a low-threshold intervention for stress reduction in a professional group with high daily psychological burden.
Methods
20 dentists (11 women, 9 men; mean age 30 years; all under 45 years; no prior experience with hypnosis) participated in a single session at the dental clinic of the University of Padua, during regular workdays between 2 and 4 PM. The protocol comprised three phases: a three-minute baseline measurement, a ten-minute guided hypnosis session (focused on recalling pleasant memories), and a three-minute measurement after dehypnotization. The statistical analysis combined frequentist and Bayesian methods, enabling robust interpretation despite the small sample size.
Mindfield Product in this Study
The eSense Galvanometer (eSense Skin Response, Mindfield Biosystems) was used as the primary measurement device for electrodermal activity. The device captured EDA data at a sampling rate of 4 Hz. The raw data were included in the analysis as the mean electrodermal activity after a preprocessing step. The eSense was thus the central instrument for measuring the primary outcome variable of this study. Additionally, the Empatica E4 Wristband was used to measure heart rate and heart rate variability, while the eSense covered the EDA-specific component.
Results
The researchers found a statistically significant decrease in skin conductance responses (SCR) after the hypnosis session (p = 0.002; Cohen’s d = 0.724 — medium to large effect size). The Bayesian analysis yielded strong evidence for the effectiveness of the intervention (BF+0 = 20.7), meaning that the observed changes were non-random with high statistical certainty.
Electrodermal activity showed a characteristic pattern: It initially increased during the hypnosis session and subsequently decreased in the post-measurement — a pattern the researchers interpret as an orientation response during the induction phase followed by sympathetic dampening. Heart rate variability did not change significantly. 18 of 20 participants subjectively reported improved well-being after the session (p < 0.00001).
The authors note limitations: small sample size (n = 20), absence of a separate control group, and lack of long-term follow-up data.
Significance
This study demonstrates the scientific use of the eSense Skin Response at a European university (Padua) in a controlled intervention study. The device was used as the primary measurement instrument for the core outcome variable and delivered statistically analyzable results with a clinically relevant effect (Cohen’s d = 0.724).
In terms of content, the study shows that skin conductance measurements with the eSense are sensitive enough to detect changes in sympathetic activation caused by a ten-minute psychological intervention. The demonstration in a professional field setting (dental practice, routine working conditions) underscores the ecological validity of the sensor beyond classical laboratory conditions.
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