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the distance generally increases with an increase of the number of 
syllables from 4 to 9, for sentences of an odd number as well as 
an even number — with a few exceptions in the latter case. With 
D., however, a diminution is observed with sentences of an odd 
number of syllables, an increase with those of an even number. 
We have seen, then, that while in the case of M the distance 
decreases regularly (with a few exceptions) from 4 to 9 syllables, 
with R. it increases for an odd as well as for an even number of 
syllables; with D. an inerease is observed for the odd and the 
decrease for the even numbers. 
What is the cause of the increase of the hearing distance with 
an increase of the number of syllables in the cases of the subjects 
R and D, especially the first; and what gives rise to the differences 
in the subjects? One might expect that with the increase of the 
number of syllables the retro-active inhibition is more keenly felt, 
in consequence of which the faculty of perception is weaker. 
Audition, however, results from the joint action of apperception 
and assimilation; the latter, just as in the case of reading, plays a 
prominent part here. Now the .process of assimilation requires a 
minimum of apperceived elements; it can readily be imagined that 
in sentences of a small number of syllables such elements are as a 
rule too small in number to serve as starting-points for the assimi- 
lation-process. The assertion that with shorter sentences the assimi- 
lation-process should naturally be less extensive and should therefore 
require fewer points of contact, does not hold good. We have 
observed again and again that a certain number of apperceived 
elements, no matter how short the sentences may be, is required to 
prevent assimilation from becoming mere guessing. So the number 
of apperceived elements required for test-sentences of various length 
is not proportionate to the increase of the number of syllables. It 
follows that the reproduction-tendencies emanating from the apper- 
ceived elements are, within certain limits, stronger than the inhibition 
they exert upon each other. The reverse seems to be the case with 
all subjeets for sentences of ten or more syllables. 
It is now easy to explain also the individual differences. With M., 
for whom we observe a gradual decrease of the hearing distance 
with an inerease of the number of syllables, the influence of inhibi- 
tion is stronger than that of assimilation. With R., for whom the 
hearing distance increases with the length of the sentences of an 
odd as well as an even number of syllables, the reverse obtains, 
viz. the unfavourable effect of inhibition is not only arrested, but 
with the increase of the number of points of contact, assimilation 
