The law of initial value differentially affects autonomic variables, applying to heart rate and respiration rate but not skin temperature or galvanic skin response.
ABSTRACT In three independent studies using 105 subjects, regression analysis was used to determine which autonomic variables are most affected by the “law of initial value” and whether the “law” always acts in the same way, i.e. are large responses always associated with low prestimulus levels of activity and conversely. For GSR, heart rate, respiration rate, and skin temperature it was found that the slope of the regression of stimulus level on prestimulus level ( B yx ) distinguishes these four ANS variables. The conclusion is that the LIV operates as one would predict for heart rate and respiration rate responses, with values of B yx less than one; but that the law does not operate for skin (finger) temperature responses, since B yx is consistently very close to one. For GSR responses expressed in terms of conductance, the converse of the LIV seems to hold, with B yx consistently greater than one. Law of initial value (LIV), Autonomic nervous system. (ANS)
Hord et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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