Basic GSR2 Biofeedback Relaxation System THE NEW ONE with CD!

by Thought Technology

Product Features

• Provides tonal feedback through speaker or earphones
• Ergonomically shaped for a most comfortable and natural grip
• Uses a 9V battery (included)

Product Description

More than 1/3 of a million GSR2 in use today! The small, hand-held and self contained GSR 2 is a Galvanic Skin Response monitoring device for home biofeedback. The term biofeedback defines a method for teaching a person how to change a certain behavior or pattern, like breathing or tension in muscles, by providing some type of feedback on progress. For example, one way to learn to relax is to focus on your breathing. Repeated longer, slower breathing, will eventually lead to relaxed muscles. But how do you know you're relaxed, or getting better at getting relaxed? That's where the GSR 2 comes in. As your body goes through changes from tension to relaxation, many measurable biological things happen. Some examples are noticeable changes in muscle tension, heart, pulse rate and skin temperature. The GSR2 precisely monitors your stress levels by translating tiny tension-related changes in skin pores into a rising or falling tone. By resting two fingers on the sensing plates you learn to lower the pitch and your stress level. You basically get "biological" feedback through the GSR2 as you learn to relax and as you get better at doing it, you'll find yourself relaxing faster with or without the GSR2. Most people use the GSR2 to relax, but it actually can be used as an assistive tool in other way's as well. I use to help with meditation and visualization practice. I find it easier to get into a deep meditative state. Once I'm there I visualize my goals and plans and can better act on them. The Basic GSR2 includes biofeedback unit, earphone, instructional CD (side 1: "How to get the most from your GSR2", side 2: "fully-narrated relaxation exercise"), 9V battery and operator's manual.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B000E22DFE
• Item model number: GSR2
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #24,841 in Health & Personal Care (See Top 100 in Health & Personal Care)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GSR2 has been used for Clinical Studies, September 14, 2010

By 

gyro2222 (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic GSR2 Biofeedback Relaxation System THE NEW ONE with CD! (Health and Beauty)

designed the GSR2 in 1976. Yes, it has been around that long. Over the years over 600,000 were sold through the sharper Image, American express and dozens of other catalogs and to thousands of medical specialists, especially psychologists for use with their patients.

Indeed, I used it to do my doctoral research with Angina patients at McGill University's teaching hospital, the Royal Victoria Hospital Cardiology Department. It was used to teach Angina patients to control increases in heart rate and blood pressure which leads to pain, with great success.

Does it accurately measure change in GSR activity. Absolutely. Is the change only due to movement artifact? Definitely not. You can clearly prove this using the extender electrodes which come with the GSR/Temp2 kit, since the Velcro band holds the electrodes in constant contact with your fingers. Similarly, if you followed the instructions in the manual which suggests the optional position of holding the unit upside down with the strap in place

"Place your first two fingers limply on the sensing plates; your thumb goes underneath the unit. Never press down or squeeze. Only your natural touch is needed, as the unit is designed to allow full and even contact, even if your fingers do not cover the complete length of the plates. If your hand needs steadying, flip the strap up. The strap is not absolutely necessary, however, it is recommended that you use it. Use it only to stop hand movement and help you maintain a light, even pressure on the plates. To adjust band tightness, gently pull the band out on both sides. Many people prefer to allow the GSR 2 monitor to rest upside down in the palm of their hand. Some people use the remote electrodes, to permit stable monitoring even while moving their hand."

The key is not to grasp the unit, but to let your hand rest gently on it or to let the unit rest gently in your hand.

As to the customer who claimed non-reactivity with the 'elastic stabilized' GSR2, I strongly suggest you were not getting a changing tone, because you were NOT changing YOUR GSR level. The GSR2 is extremely sensitive to changes in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). A rising tone indicates increased SNS activity and stress; conversely, a falling tone indicates decreased activity and relaxation. This is due to changes in skin pore size and electrolyte concentration in the pores.

If you question the efficacy of the GSR2, I suggest you look at the Thought Technology history page to see examples of how it has been used by 1000's of Olympic and professional athletes to teach relaxation and visualization skills for their sports, as well as by clinicians to use with their patients. Surely, they aren't training just movement artifact. I strongly suggest you test the unit again.

I designed the GSR2 because at the time, there were only large unwieldy laboratory style devices that required external electrodes. My goal was to make something ergonomic, which was totally self-contained, would run for years on a single 9 volt battery and which could be expanded to work with external sensors for temperature, respiration, meter display and PC.

In 1986, HES software sold our product for the PC as CalmPute. Leonard Nimoy was the spokesperson for company and was featured prominently on the CalmPute box. You can find loads more information at Thought Technology's website as well as just by doing a Google search.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent piece of equipment, June 5, 2010

By 

Terri S. Jones "Witkacy fan" (Frederick MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Basic GSR2 Biofeedback Relaxation System THE NEW ONE with CD! (Health and Beauty)

The GSR2 reinforces the stress management techniques I learned from my psychologist to attain a state of calm relaxation. These techniques relieve pain generated by stress and anxiety. If you feel inexplicable pain or depression this device can help you cope with these symptoms.

The CD Rom which comes with the GSR2 provides a great summary of some helpful stress management techniques, such as breathing in rhythm and mental relaxation drills. I would recommend this product to anyone who has anxiety-related headaches.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fun 2 Use, But not Applicably Effective in Real Life Situations, May 4, 2011

By 

AmazonCustomer "AmazonCustomer" (USA, Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Basic GSR2 Biofeedback Relaxation System THE NEW ONE with CD! (Health and Beauty)

I brought my first GSR-2 unit in 2001 and another one in Feb 2011. I love to use for 30mins to another on some days. It does help me relax at the time when I am using the GSR-2 unit. I have to be honest here, I use it for a day or two then stop for months or even years. So, I am not a religious user of GSR like some folks are. I can relax when I am using the gsr unit, however, I find the relaxation effect does not last. Of course, the effects from tranquilizers do not last either. That is why you have to take a new dose every few hours. Fair enough, however, the effects from tranquilizers are effective in real life situations. For example, You take xanax because you have anxiety attacks in public places. The effect from xanax will subdued your anxiety(while you are in public places)for as long as the drug chemicals are in effect in your body. The GSR-2 effect is not like that. I notice I can relax while I am using it. However, when I am in a stressful situation and I am not using the gsr unit, I can not apply the relaxation effects. Perhaps, I am not using it correctly or long enough. This is where the limitations of applicability/applying the effects separate psych drugs and biofeedbacks like GSR-2 units. The effects from drugs are automatic and the chemicals forced the effects onto your body. With Biofeedback like GSR-2, you have apply the effects of the unit onto your body or brain. The thing is, you use biofeedback because your body or brain isn't working well... In other words, you might not be able to effect the changes on your brain or body because either or both will not cooporate....

After I have said all of the above, I do think the GSR-2 unit is worth buying. It's important to develop your own plans for using this device, since the enclosed instructions may not work for you. It's also important to know what exactly do you plan to acommplished with this device, and be realistic about your goals. Sometimes, drugs or doctors might save you time and money in the long run. GSR-2 gives you feedback of only one psychobio response, which is your level of nervous tension. It shows you what is your nervous tension at the moment, you might be able to change it by lowering it at the time. You might not be able to lower it during stressful situation when you are not using the GSR unit. It's well known when people become stressful their hand skin temps go down and their heart beats go up. However, most folks can not successfully control their heart rates or hand skin temps during stressful situations... the same might apply for GSR for you as well.. Good luck to you folks who do buy this device. I hope you will have better luck with it than I. take care.