CHAPTER XVIII 

 DISTURBANCES OF ASSOCIATIVE MEMORY 



i. We have mentioned the hypothesis that each 

 image of memory is localised in a special ganglion-cell 

 or a group of ganglion-cells. As soon as a new image 

 of memory arrives, it is, according to this hypothesis, 

 deposited in one of the empty cells. Who deposits it 

 and who finds out which cell is empty and which oc- 

 cupied is a question the originators of such hypotheses 

 do not ask. This conception treats the image of 

 memory as if it were something substantial, i. e., 

 something characterised by mass. 1 Munk has as- 

 serted the possibility of proving that in a dog the sin- 

 gle visual images of memory are localised in isolated 

 cells, or groups of cells, at the part A x (Fig. 39). He 

 gives as proof two experiments, " in which extirpation 

 of the part Aj caused the loss of all but one of the 

 visual images of memory. One single visual image 



1 This peculiar hybrid between metaphysics and anatomy owes its origin 

 largely to Gall. Gall was an industrious worker in the anatomy of the brain 

 and at the same time a huge fraud. The anatomy of the brain was not suffi- 

 ciently sensational for him, so he enlivened things somewhat by grafting upon 

 his anatomy the worst metaphysics he could possibly get hold of. The various 

 nooks and corners of the brain became the seat of soul-powers of his invention. 

 This artificial connection between metaphysics and brain-anatomy or histology 

 has since become traditional. 



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