INTEGRATION OF MOVEMENTS IN LEARNING IN THE RAT 433 



impossible. Posture was difficult to facilitate when rapid move- 

 ments direct to the latch from the entrance box occurred. Pre- 

 viously in table 2 it was shown that when the problem was 

 solved on the fifth or sixth day, learning appeared impossible. 



Any great variation in the results in these tables is the result 

 of the functional condition of the rat's reflex parts, namely, 

 that of the reflex thrusts, that for the production of reflex excit- 

 ability, and possibly others. Their functional condition deter- 

 mines the results obtained. The most important things to be 

 noted are the reaction tune of the neck reflex movement, that 

 for directive integration, and when these movements are facili- 

 tated. It is also of interest to note the conditions that arise 

 during the facilitation of them. All these things deserve separate 

 consideration for they are significant in learning. 



The reaction time of the neck reflex movement varies from 

 trial to trial. Decided increases as well as decreases occur, and 

 these are conditioned by changes in the functional condition of 

 the rats. These tables show that when the functional condition 

 is the best, the reaction time of the neck reflex movement varies 

 the least, and the variation is proportionally greater when the 

 reflex mechanisms fluctuate. The reaction time for the neck 

 reflex varies the least in table 4 where the functional condition of 

 the rat is the best. It varies from A to A of a second. Where 

 in other tables the reflex thrusts are stated to be poorly devel- 

 oped, variations in the reaction tune are greater, being anywhere 

 from A to f of a second. The reaction time varies in table 5 

 frpm A to M, table 6 from A to i$, table 7 from A to if, table 

 8 from A to f & of a second. At the end of a series of trials, the 

 reaction times become more uniform, and for the last 10 trials, 

 they average about A of a second. There is no gradual decrease 

 in the reaction time for the neck reflex movement, but the 

 reaction time becomes much more regular as the trials increase 

 in number. 



A greater difference in the reaction time for directive integra- 

 tion occurs, and here the reaction time gradually decreases from 

 trial to trial. This seems to indicate that a greater difficulty 

 occurs in the facilitation of directive integration than to produce 



