What activates eccrine sweat glands to produce electrodermal activity?

Eccrine sweat glands are primarily activated by acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the sympathetic nervous system's activation of sweat production. When the body experiences stimuli such as heat or emotional stress, the sympathetic nervous system releases acetylcholine, which binds to receptors on eccrine sweat glands, stimulating the glands to produce sweat. This process is particularly important in the context of thermoregulation and emotional responses, leading to changes in electrodermal activity that are often measured in biofeedback and psychophysiological assessments.

In contrast, while norepinephrine can influence sweat gland activity as part of a stress response, it primarily works through the apocrine glands rather than eccrine glands. Serotonin and dopamine play different roles in the body, mainly related to mood regulation and neurological functions, rather than directly activating sweat glands. Therefore, acetylcholine is the most relevant neurotransmitter involved in initiating electrodermal activity through eccrine sweat glands.