i6o Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



tion has been clearly made out by Dogiel in the anastomoses 

 between the tactile corpuscles. It is a remarkable confirmation 

 of the theory that pleasures of the tactile sphere are based on 

 irradiations that, in the case of the most intense pleasure, the 

 skin is most thoroughly and elaborately provided with the anas- 

 tomosing fibers for irradiation. See his article on the nerves of 

 the skin of the sexual organs. Of course, in the case of the 

 central connections there is always opportunity for more or less 

 irradiation. Association tracts in the cortex are special cases 

 of provision for irradiation or, at least, the application of that 

 principle of nervous overflow. It is not difficult to trace a use- 

 ful analogy between the pleasures of the higher cognitive fac- 

 ulty and the irradiation in the skin. In both cases the central 

 condition is also important. If the system is keyed up, much 

 greater irradiation is possible (as is very plain in tickling or the 

 erotic excitement). It is not our purpose to carry this thought 

 into its logical conclusion" in the higher sphere, though it follows 

 naturally enough from the above that a close similarity can be 

 traced into the emotional field. 



The theory above indicated was first outlined in this jour- 

 nal (Vol. V, p. i) but in several respects the statement suffered 

 from insufficient recognition of the contrast between the sum- 

 mation and irradiation processes, though their close relation was 

 fully recognized. 



Tlie Dynamic Character of Co?iscmisness. All the results 

 of our recent studies serve but to enforce the truth that all con- 

 scious acts are dynamic. There is no such thing as a state of 

 consciousness. The old idea that a sensory stimulus terminat- 

 ing in a receptive cell sets up a change in its condition which is 

 in itself the physical basis of a simple conscious state — a sensa- 

 tion, for example — finds no confirmation in the structure of the 

 organ. In every case apparently there is a refluent wave. Thus 

 it may be believed that all the earlier receptive currents set up 

 responsive overflowing currents. In the case of stimuli which 

 are not capable of localization, the pleasure-pain element which 

 is bound up with everything entering consciousness is not other- 

 wise employed; but in the case of peripheral stimuli these same 



