Furedy J J, Heslegrave R J, Scher H
Pavlov J Biol Sci. 1984 Oct-Dec;19(4):182-94. doi: 10.1007/BF03004516.
The objective study of behavior, which is the stated aim of our society, does not impose restrictions on the levels of explanatory constructs that are used. The only restriction is that the evidence concerning those constructs be stated in an objective or scientifically communicable way. Thus the concepts that we employ to explain behavior range from the sociologic to the biochemical. This article's underlying thesis is that behavior needs to be investigated at various levels, and that these levels should be clearly differentiated in order to bring these investigations into a scientifically meaningful relationship. The thesis is here illustrated by examining evidence and arguments concerning the utility and status of a noninvasive index of myocardial performance: T-wave amplitude (TWA). The examination begins at a psychophysiological-index level, wherein TWA is considered in terms of how well this noninvasive physiological index differentiates psychological processes. Secondly, at a lower physiological-index level, we consider the assumption that TWA reflects a relatively unitary physiological process, myocardial beta-adrenergic sympathetic influence. Both the grounds for and implications of this assumption are discussed. Finally, at the physiological-index level of discourse, brief reference is made to the mechanism by which changes in beta-adrenergic sympathetic innervation may produce correlated changes in TWA. The overall aim of the article is to differentiate these three levels of investigation, and yet also to consider the interrelationship among these three levels in order to provide a fuller scientific understanding of the phenomena involved.
对行为进行客观研究是我们社会既定的目标，它并不对所使用的解释性概念的层次施加限制。唯一的限制是，关于这些概念的证据应以客观的或科学上可交流的方式陈述。因此，我们用来解释行为的概念范围从社会学的到生物化学的。本文的基本论点是，需要在不同层次上对行为进行研究，并且这些层次应该明确区分，以便使这些研究形成科学上有意义的关系。本文通过考察关于心肌功能无创指标：T波振幅（TWA）的效用和地位的证据及论证来说明这一论点。考察从心理生理指标层次开始，在这个层次上，根据这个无创生理指标区分心理过程的能力来考虑TWA。其次，在较低的生理指标层次上，我们考虑TWA反映相对单一的生理过程即心肌β - 肾上腺素能交感神经影响这一假设。讨论了这一假设的依据和含义。最后，在生理指标论述层次上，简要提及β - 肾上腺素能交感神经支配的变化可能产生TWA相关变化的机制。本文的总体目标是区分这三个研究层次，但同时也要考虑这三个层次之间的相互关系，以便对所涉及的现象提供更全面的科学理解。
