134 Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



in mammals the powerful increase of the hemispheres is accom- 

 panied with a simultaneous and not less powerful increase of 

 the corpora striata, while in all the lower creatures whose psycJie 

 is little developed the (fiS'/^c'/'^:? quadrigci/iina diV\d the t/ialaini optici 

 (the organs of instinct-reflexes, and involuntary motions) are of 

 an extraordinary size and play the most important part in the 

 nervous system. ^ 



I do not say that the corpora striata are the seat of con- 

 sciousness in the sense of being a localisation of the functions 

 of awareness, but only indicate thereby that by their co-opera- 

 tion or super-added function the activity of some part of the 

 hemispheres is so intensified as to become illuminated by con- 

 sciousness. I know that I propose a theory which is not 

 proved, but I submit it to further inquiry and shall not be 

 ashamed to give it up when confronted with facts that dis- 

 prove it. 



I owe to Dr. Adolf Meyer of Kankakee a bibliography of 

 the subject, which with his permission I insert here, as it may 

 prove useful to those who wish to inform themselves on the 

 function of the corpora striata. 



^ This sentence is an almost literal reiteration of Exner's resume oi Mey- 

 nert's view which appears in his Physiologischen Erkldrung der psychischen 

 Erscheinungen, 1894, P- 26. He says : 



" Wir diirfen vermuthen dass die genannten Ganglien der anatomische 

 Ausdruck jener physiologischen Erscheinungen (der Willkiirbewegungen) 

 sind," etc. As to the connexions of the cortex with the great '■'■Stammgang- 

 lien''' Exner says in the same booklet, p. 341 " fiir Linsenkern und Schweifkern 

 wurde das bezweifelt, aber in neuerer Zeit wieder bestatigt." I need scarcely 

 add that Exner still shares the traditional opinion that consciousness has its 

 seat in the cortex. Prof. J. Dejerine, in his beautiful work Anatomic des Cen- 

 tres Nerveux, 1S95, ^o\. I, pp. 110-118, and 360-376, also mentions connexions 

 of the corpus striatum with both the cortex and lower regions of the nervous 

 system. Edinger, too, proves for certain that there are connexions at least 

 between the striate body and the thalamus. Meynert's proposition has been 

 conjectural, but, says Edinger, he has upon the whole been right in his divina- 

 tions. Edinger's resume is stated as follows : 



" Linsenkernschlinge und Caudatusfaserung entsprechen dem basalen 

 Vorderhirnbiindel der niederen Vertebraten." See Verliandhingen der Anatom- 

 ischen Gesellscha/t. Eighth Meeting, Strassburg i. E, 1894. 



