ON THE FUNCTIONS OF THE CEREBRUM 325 



adverbs and verbs, when thought of alone (articulatory word- 

 centre), as a rule arouse little beyond their respective visual 

 or auditory word-images, which, in themselves, are meaningless. 

 Adjectives, adverbs, verbs, and abstract nouns, when thought of 

 alone (articulatory word-centre), arouse first their respective visual 

 or auditory word-images. These, however, are meaningless until 

 by complex processes of association they are defined and illustrated 

 through the sensori-memorial spheres attached to the various 

 sensory or projection areas. Common or proper nouns, when 

 thought of alone (articulatory word-centre), may first arouse their 

 visual or auditory word-images, but they frequently at once awaken 

 a whole series of processes of association, and thereby determine 

 the reproduction of sensori-memorial images attached to one or 

 more of the several sensory or projection areas. It may be re- 

 marked that any such series of processes of association differs in 

 detail on each occasion on which it is evolved. For example, the 

 mental processes induced by the word " cat," whether this be 

 thought of (articulatory sphere) or be heard or seen (auditory or 

 visual sphere), are different, not fundamentally but in detail, on 

 each occasion on which they are aroused. This ever- varying 

 perceptive content is consequent on the revivification of, and the 

 modification of the complex relations of, the numerous existing 

 sensori-memorial images, of which the word is symbolic, which 

 are constantly taking place under the influence of even apparently 

 unrelated afferent impressions. 



Hence, the auditory, visual, cheirographic, and articulatory word- 

 centres merely signify the cortical regions in which lie the physical 

 bases of mental algebraic symbols. These, unless they serve as in- 

 citing agents from which spread, in different directions throughout 

 the cerebrum, complex impulses of association, signify no more than 

 unmeaning sounds, shapes, and musculo-kinsesthetic sensations. 



Language is produced by the suitable co-ordination of the 

 verbal content of the auditory and articulatory word-centres. It 

 is originally acquired by imitation under the influence of audi- 

 tory sensations, and in educated persons language is more highly 

 evolved owing to education of the visual and cheirographic spheres. 

 When, however, it has once been acquired, language (i.e. functional 

 activity of the several word-centres with their commissural systems) 

 is not necessarily employed as the instrument of thought, although 

 it has been primarily evolved for this purpose. 



