Physiology of Central Xkuvous System 



only on simple mechanical arrangements. In the last analysis, 

 then, we would arrive at molecules and atoms endowed with 

 mental qualities. We can dispose of this view by the mere fact 

 that the phenomena of embryological development anri of 

 organization in general show a degree of purposefulness whicli 

 may even surpass that of any reflex or instinctive or conscious 

 act. And yet we do not consi(h'r the plienomena of develop- 

 ment to be dependent upon consciousness. 



On the other hand, physiologists who have api)reciated tlie 

 untenable character of such metaphysical speculations have 

 held that the only alternative is to droj) the search for the 

 mechanisms underlying consciousness and study exclusiv<'ly the 

 results of operations on the brain. This would be throwing 

 out the ^^heat with the chaff. The mistake made by meta- 

 physicians is not that they devote themselves to fundamental 

 problems, but that they employ the wrong methods of investi- 

 gation and substitute a play on words for an explanation by 

 means of facts. If brain physiology gives up its fundamental 

 problem, namely, the discovery of those elementary proces-es 

 which make consciousness possible, it abandons its best i)ossi- 

 bilities. But to obtain results, the errors of the metaphysician 

 must be avoided and explanations must rest upon facts, not 

 words. The method should l)e the same for animal psychology 

 that it is for brain physiology. It should consist in the right 

 understanding of the fundamental i^rucess which ri'curs in 

 all psychic phenomena as the elemental component. This 

 process, according to my opinion, is the activity of the assocuitirc 

 memory, or of association. Consciousness is only a metaphysical 

 term for phenomena which are determined by a.ssociative 

 memory. By associative memory I mean that int'chanism by 

 which a stimulus brings about not only the effects which its 

 nature and the specific structure of the irritable organ call for, 

 but by which it brings about also the effects of other stimuli 

 which formerly acted upon the organism almost or (luite 



