136 John B. Calhoun 



What Eq. (103j implies is that where A' is the factor which produces the 

 variabihty iu /x', it can be effective in maintaining 60 but not necessarily 

 an optimum 6/ (see discussion following Eq. (74)), provided it acts as a 

 governor on the intensity of interaction independent from the influence 

 upon i exerted by d. A decrease in the A component of n indicates a de- 

 crease in the home range a (see Sections II-V). The significance of this 

 hne of reasoning is that this A governor, which controls i, is likely to be 

 identical to the one previously postulated for determining the duration of 

 an outward trip from home. In the general sense, this governor controls 

 the duration of behaviors. Social interaction merely represents one specific 

 category of behaviors. Related to the above discussion, it may be noted 

 that Eqs. (69) and (103) are equivalent since n' = l/n, so long as m = 1-0 

 or fjL > 1.0. As originally formulated in the discussion before Ec^. (38), n' 

 simply operated as a probability of an actual contact being perceived. 

 However, the above and following discussion indicate that m' can exceed 

 1.0. By imagining contacts, which actually do not occur, through a de- 

 crease of the A' component of /i', n' can exceed 1.0. 



In terms of the model proposed in Section III, A, whenever A decreases, 

 the rate of firing of the neuronal net of the governor will increase. Thus, 

 an increase in A' represents an increased rate of firing of the neuronal net 

 of the governor. 



Previously I pointed out that a decrease in A' to compensate for an in- 

 crease in A might be visualized as an hallucinatory process. There is no 

 reason why A' camiot equally involve the governor of intensity of activity 

 when A increases above .-l^ normally appropriate to Nb', a decrease in A' 

 would represent a slowing of the firing of the neuronal net of the governor, 

 which change would then permit a longer duration of interaction. This 

 longer duration of interaction would compensate for the fewer /«« interac- 

 tions possible in a larger A. 



The concept of social perception of contacts subsumed under n' thus 

 includes a wdde variety of processes. It includes (1) selective acceptance of 

 stimuli to be integrated in the central nervous system; (2) impedance or 

 facilitation of passage of signals across neuronal synapses; (3) alteration 

 in the length of a neuronal circuit; (4) hallucinating a contact; and (5) 

 governing the intensity of interaction. These m' capacities for adjustment 

 are most likely to be found farthest advanced in those species in which d, 

 V, and A fluctuate most markedly with reference to all members of a group 

 within the life span of every individual. However, over long spans of time 

 encompassing many generations, a gradual increase in d, v, and A should 

 increase the complexity of social life possible. At least this conclusion 

 holds to the extent that enhanced synaptic transmission, increased dura- 

 tion and intensity of behavior, and increased discriminatory capacity 

 foster more effective social behavior. 



