427 



melaneholiac proved clearly that after this lapse of time still «con- 

 siderable amounts are present. 



In the same way slower motility of the large intestine can also 

 be established, in one patient the food remained in the large intestine 

 for 4 days, in others for more than n days. 



It is evident that relative to the emotions the conscious will-acts 

 and the unconscious centrifugal impulses are subject to the same 

 rules. 



In discussing the reflexes it appeared that mutual inhibition of 

 co-existing phenomena of consciousness also applies to simultaneous 

 unconscious centrifugal impulses. Babinski's reflex is superseded by 

 the normal plantar retlex, the sucking- and the gait-retlex by other 

 movements, arising later, the diminution of the patellar retlex is 

 the result of centrifugal impulses that are always j)resent, the tonus 

 of the antagonists diminishes through contraction of the agonists. 

 All this proves that the co-incidence of involuntary efferent impulses 

 gives rise to a mutual inhibition in precisely the same way as with 

 the co-incidence of conscious will-acts. Hereby a complete co-opera- 

 tion of the muscles is rendered possible. 



Closely related to this are the associated moxements. When a 

 child begins to grasp at things with the right hand, the left one 

 accompatiies it. A few years later these "co-operations" disappear. 

 They are inhibited. Whence does this inhibition arise? An ijicessant 

 flux of impressions passes from the extremities to the area of con- 

 sciousness, imparting information regarding attitude and position of 

 the limbs, so that the easiest attitude will be selected and every 

 undesired movement will be counteracted. At first this occurs arbitra- 

 rily, afterwards involuntarily and reflexly. A gymnast and a skater 

 will first try to counteract the unnecessary movements, afterwards 

 this happens involuntarily. That the inhibitory action is exerted by 

 these simultaneous centrifugal reflex impulses may be gathered from 

 the following facts : 



Associated movements are stiongest in the first years of life. 

 When the position reflexes begin to develop, the associated move- 

 ments will gradually cease. 



They will recur or intensify in highly emotional situations. The 

 pre-occupation resulting from them will not only eliminate all com- 

 plexes of the central area of consciousness, but also the subliminal 

 position-reflexes will be affected by them, so that the associated 

 movements of a deeper level will recur. In the same way in con- 



