This invention provides a tunneling effect element that has versatility and that does not receive the effects of drift due to differences in the thermal-expansion coefficient of the lower and upper electrodes, and is not easily affected by external magnetic fields. The disclosed tunneling effect element 1 comprises: an insulating layer 11 that forms a tunneling barrier, a lower electrode 12 that is conductive and is formed on the bottom surface of the insulating layer 11, an upper electrode 13 that is conductive and is formed on the top surface of the insulating layer 11, and a transmission member 5 that is formed around the insulating layer 11, lower electrode 12 and upper electrode 13, and transmits the behavior of the object to be detected to the insulating layer 11.