The rate at which your tension gauge pulses indicates the multiplier on your rate-of-tension gain. I remember there being some hard numbers somewhere, or maybe my remembering is funny.
basically
neg-pen gives you a stupid big negative multiplier
ODs, RCs, FRCs, and FDing give you a small negative multiplier
and backdashing/airdashback, too
forward movement, attacking, IBing give you positive multiplier.