TRANSFER OF RESPONSE IN THE WHITE RAT 



37 



although short, of practically no learning, then a very sudden 

 jump up to perfect response, rather than the sudden initial 

 rise and the final long period of perfecting the process 

 found in many learning curves. In the dotted curves it 

 appears that the steepness of the ascent is modified a 

 little in some cases. These take into account not only the 

 correct responses but also the "hesitations^" and the times 

 of 'slowing up' due to the stimulus presented. But the light 

 was learned so quickly that little difference is made by tak- 

 ing these additional evidences of learning into account. The 

 few series necessary for learning the light also prevents the 

 early period of non-learning from standing out clearly. One 

 individual case in particular, number 84 in Group XI, 

 illustrates the rapidity of learning very strikingly. The 

 first series in this animal's record shows one correct response 

 out of 15 chances, this one being the last of the fifteen. The 

 next six series show a perfect record. This makes its record 

 run as follows, counting in per cent of correct responses: 

 first series, 6 2-3 per cent; second series, 100 per cent; third 

 series, 100 per cent; fourth series, 100 per cent; fifth series, 

 100 per cent; sixth series, 100 per cent; seventh series, 100 

 per cent. One could scarcely find anywhere a record in 

 animal learning that would equal it. 



Since similar phenomena appear in learning the negative 

 response to the other sorts of stimuli used, discussion will be 

 reserved until those results have also been given. 



(2) Sound,— Six groups of animals, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, 

 XVIII, XIX, were taught the negative response to the 

 sound stimulus. The results have been summarized in the 

 following tables: 



Group XIV 



Animal Trials Series 



No. 59 345 23 



No. 61 465 31 



No. 63 540 36 



No. 64 435 29 



No. 65 465 31 



Average 450 30 



GROU.f^ XV 



Animal Trials Series 



No. 60 450 30 



No. 67 375 25 



No. 68 345 23 



No. 69 300 20 



No. 70 345 23 



No. 73 405 27 



Average 370 24.66 



