PAPERS OX PSYCHOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY 119 



scribed," was experienced. These patterns fulfilled the 

 conditions, too, of 'complete unison' described in the nar- 

 ratives. As one observer remarked, *'I was impressed 

 by the lightness and then the extreme darkness as the 

 lights were turned on and off", when as a matter of 

 physical fact, the apparatus did not furnish any interval 

 when there were no lights lit. 



In most cases, however, the organization took the form 

 of a temporal arrangement much like our ordmary rhyth- 

 mical experiences, as some of the selected introspections 

 show: 



*'I was conscious of more order in the s^^tching on and 

 off of the lights this time." 



"It suggested a rhythmical procedure on the violin." 



"The idea occurred which meant a rh}i:hmical swing- 

 ing of church bells in a belfry." 



' ' The idea of playing of piano was called to mind. The 

 brief flashes of light seemed similar to the liglit touches 

 given the notes when a fast piece is played." 



Altogether while no mention of rhythm had been made, 

 the reference to it was very common. This rhythmical 

 groujDing, involving a subjectively produced 's^^ichro- 

 nism', was all the more marked when the observer was 

 carried along by the suggestion of the initial groupings 

 which were actually produced in the last series. 



Summary and Conclusion. Our experiments seem to 

 indicate that under conditions which simulate the natural 

 ones there is a strong tendency to read into the experi- 

 ence, that is presented in a disorganized manner, some- 

 thing of order and regularity. TTe are continually as- 

 sociating and integrating into groups. This is as true of 

 our simple impressions as it is of our higher and more 

 complex processes of reasoning. A treeful of fireflies 

 flashing each one to his o^^^l sweet will is not faithfully 

 observed in the first place nor faithfully reported in the 

 second place. The writer sees nothing to invalidate the 

 empirical results of the Snyders or of Mast, nor does he 

 find himself inclined to doubt the statements made con- 

 cernmg the apparent temporary coincidence of the 

 thousands of flashes that is, for a brief space of time; 



