IV 



PATTERN ADAPTATION OF FISIIKS AM) THi: MLLllAX- 



ISM OF VLSIOX^ 



The mechanism of the action of the brain is cntin-ly 

 unkno\vn to us. We are unable to look into the active brain 

 and the objective results of brain action are in general so difTcr- 

 ent in their nature from the external stimulus which leads to the 

 action that we are prevented in most cases from drawing any 

 conclusions concerning the nature of the processes occurring 

 in the brain. 



From results obtained in experiments on dogs Munk stated 

 years ago that there existed a projection of the retina on a part 

 of the cortex which he had designated as the \isual si)here and 

 that the extirpation of definite parts of this sphere caused 

 blindness in definite parts of the retina. I repeated thes<' 

 experiments but was not able to confirm his statements. 

 Henschen has recently, however, furnished the proof, on the 

 basis of excellent pathological observations on man. that such 

 a projection after all exists, but that it is situated in another 

 part of the cortex from where ]\Iunk had believetl it to be. 

 namely, in the area striata. Minkowski was able to confirm 

 Henschen's conclusions through experi lents on dogs. These 

 observations and experiments suggest the ])ossibility that in 

 vision an image is formed not only on the retina but also on the 



cortex. 



The possibility that vision is based on the formation of an 

 image in the brain is supported by a group of facts which to 

 my knowledge have never received any consideration in this 

 connection. 



1 Reprinted from Physiologischcs CcntralUalf, XXV. No. JJ. l*.»l-'. This 

 note is given merely as a suggestion concerning ihv nurlumism un.I. rl> ing c.rtain 

 brain processes. 



71) 



