A comparison of gel-to-gel and skin measurements of electrode impedance.

Utilizing an automated test system, measurements of the 10-Hz impedance were made with electrode pairs joined gel-to-gel and electrode quartets on the skin of the backs of human volunteers. Two skin preparation procedures were examined. As a minimum skin preparation, the electrodes were applied to clean, dry skin from which body hair had been shaved if necessary. As a maximal preparation, the electrodes were applied after mild abrasion of the skin with fine emery cloth. Although the impedances measured for electrodes applied to mildly abraded skin correlated well with measurements made with electrodes of the same brand joined gel-to-gel, virtually no correlation was found if the electrodes were affixed to clean, dry skin.