CEREBRAL FUNCTION IN LEARNING 



91 



ments are summarized in table 4. The average numbers of trials 

 required for learning by the members of each group are in- 

 cluded in table 2. From these two tables it is evident that the 

 operated animals were not at all inferior to normal ones trained 

 under the same conditions. Indeed, as the data stand, it seems 

 that the operated animals are much superior to the normal con- 

 trols. The average number of trials required by the normal ani- 



TABLE 4 



The number of trials required by operated animals for learning the double-platform 

 box, with the percentage of the total cerebral cortex injured 



mals is 142.6. The average number required by all operated ani- 

 mals (exclusive of number 17) is 79. The difference is 63.6 trials 

 in favor of the group with injury to the cerebrum, or 44.6 per 

 cent. 



In this respect the experiment seems to prove too much! Had 

 such a difference appeared in the other direction we might have 

 been inclined to accept the result without question as indicat- 

 ing a significant retarding effect of cerebral injury upon the learn- 



