title: T-wave amplitude: on the meaning of a psychophysiological index.
abstract: The preceding article by Furedy, Heslegrave and Scher presents a positive evaluation of T-wave amplitude (TWA) as a psychophysiologic index, and rejects the more cautious and less favorable view contained in a paper by Contrada et al. (1989). In this article I propose that the Furedy et al. perspective rests on: (1) a questionable approach to the logic of causal inference; (2) an unsatisfactory view of measurement validity; (3) the use of imprecise and therefore misleading language; (4) a disregard of valuable observations that can be drawn from the data of individual research subjects; (5) an objection to evaluative conclusions that can provide a useful stimulus to empirical inquiry. Close examination of these issues argues for a skeptical view of the state of knowledge regarding the meaning of TWA alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rutgers-State University, New Brunswick, NJ 08903.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Contrada
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011603:Psychophysiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity