THE PROCESS OF MEMORIZING. 133 



but it saves the subject from the tedium and ennui of the classical 

 methods. 



Relatively slight disturbances of attention during the series show 

 immediately and directly in the record by a lengthening of the corre- 

 sponding reaction-time beyond that of the previous exposure. Such 

 disturbances are universal after a false reaction has been made. They 

 are difficult to score simply, but should doubtless be considered in some 

 way in the results. False reactions must be marked on the record by 

 the experimenter. Their time was excluded in computing the total 

 saving, but a record of them was kept for comparison with future 

 experiments. 



SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF ALCOHOL ON MEMORY. 



The results of our experiments on the effect of alcohol on memory are 

 summarized in table 20. While different subjects vary widely in the 

 effect of alcohol on the memory process as measured by our technique, 

 the total results show no predominant tendency of alcohol on the main 

 group of subjects. As far as our measurements go, rote memory (pri- 

 mary retention) is neither better nor worse after small doses of alcohol. 



It is interesting to note that the most pronounced improvement of 

 memory after alcohol was found with Subject VI, who frequently dif- 

 fered notably from the group in other experiments. Under ordinary 

 circumstances, he was the most easily confused of the group. He was 

 particularly liable to become disturbed and to get "rattled," as he put 

 it. The most pronounced decrease of capacity after alcohol was shown 

 by Subject VII, who depended least on simple perseveration and most 

 on quickness in forming artificial associations to memorize the series. 

 It is not impossible that the same depression of the capacity for making 

 new associations that decreased the effectiveness of Subject VII may 

 have relieved Subject VI from intercurrent mental disturbances. 



