The effects of behavioral response requirements on skin conductance level (SCL) were studied. Initial Ss were placed in either a “non-respond” (NR) or a “respond” (R) condition. No clear effects were observed other than large differences in individual response to both conditions. Subsequent use of a within-Ss replication design showed, however, that behavioral requirements have a tonic effect on SCL and that anticipatory changes in SCL may occur prior to the R condition. The results support the hypothesis that autonomic and behavioral events are essentially integrated and, in addition, suggest the efficacy of the within-Ss replication design in treating individual differences.
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