182 THE GLANDS REGULATING PERSONALITY 



associative memory becomes difficult or impossible because con- 

 duction from cell to cell is interfered with. If sufficient thyroid 

 is fed in excess, brain conduction may be so facilitated that 

 epilepsy may result upon slight irritation. 



On the other hand, the pituitary seems to be related to preser- 

 vation of the memory deposit/ In conditions of disease of the 

 pituitary, loss of memory for past experiences is more marked. 

 As regards recent experiences, they are better held, although in 

 a sort of subconscious manner, recoverable when the condition 

 improves or is cured. But the greatest difference between the 

 thyroid and pituitary effects upon memory exists as regards 

 material: the thyroid memory applies particularly to perception 

 and percepts, the pituitary to conception (reading, studying, 

 thinking) and concepts. 



Judgment is another mental process that often intervenes be- 

 tween sensation and the energy-reaction. It involves memory 

 and association of experiences. Behind it is an attitude as much 

 as there is in an emotion or the arousing of an instinct. Beliefs 

 and reasonings are complex judgments. They form the units of 

 the intellectual process. 



There is an element of speed in judgment on reasoning as in 

 perception and memory. And as in the latter, the thyroid deter- 

 mines the velocity. Quick thinking, as we call it, means good 

 thyroid action, and slow fhinking_ deficient thyroid action. The 

 other element in judgment, accuracy, is influenced by the ante- 

 pituitary. During adolescence there is physical growth which 

 consumes most of the secretion of the ante-pituitary. After 

 adolescence, after the early twenties, when physical growth baa 

 ceased, the ante-pituitary secretion sensitizes the cells of the 

 brain to mental growth. The reaction potential of the 

 pituitary, that is its inherent, latent ability to supply a D 

 mum of its endocrine for the nerve cells of the frontal lobes, is 

 the best-known chemical determinant of intellect*] is. It 



for th 't co-ordination of ezper 



information, tastes and problems into one 1 Ufl whole 



And curiously, not only does it cause a fusion of intell. 

 material: ft of such material. 



lmuM expect to fin; dinarily well-dcwln; 



rs and in 

 and we do. Adequate 'it is present throughout 



of normals wi tly ripei pnenl u 



prog res s through 1 D ability to profit by experience, and 



