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Heart rate level and phasic responses to auditory stimuli were recorded in a total of 39 newborn offspring with one schizophrenic parent and compared to those of 82 newborns with no family history of a schizophrenic disorder as well as to those of 48 newborns with a possible family history of a schizophrenic disorder. Newborns were tested for 3½ hrs on the second and, again, on the third postnatal day, and the data were analyzed in relation to a number of perinatal variables. Results indicated a significant Interaction between diagnostic group and the level of maternal delivery medication for the change in heart rate level during the second, but not the third, postnatal day. The possible validity of this finding is discussed, and reasons for the failure to obtain more definitive heart rate differences between these groups of newborns are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]