186 PHYSICAL EXPRESSION. 



of the man. The only connecting link between the 

 man and the object that attracts his attention is the 

 light reflected from its surface, or emitted from it, 

 owing to its inherent luminosity; we may say, 

 then, that it is the light from the object that 

 causes the head to rotate the forehead towards the 

 object or source of light. Thus, if a child is 

 seated at table duly hungry, bringing a plate of 

 food toward him will, as soon as the plate comes 

 within his field of view, cause rotation towards the 

 plate, and the plate of food will be said to have 

 attracted his attention. If, however, the child is 

 in a very irritable, cross, peevish state of mind 

 (brain), rotation of the head may occur away from 

 the plate of food, it may be repelled by it, not 

 attracted. Here is a mode of expression ; a similar 

 stimulus at one time causes rotation towards the 

 source of stimulation, in other conditions of the 

 nerve-centres the head is rotated away from 

 the stimulus. 



The attraction and repulsion of the head as the 

 effects of visual stimulus are very curious modes 

 of expression. Probably the varying conditions of 

 the nerve-system are often expressed by the effects 

 of light and sound in causing rotation of the head. 

 I think that this kind of attraction and repulsion 

 can best be studied in the rotatory movements of 

 the head and eyes. 



Movements of the head frequently occur as the 

 result of the spontaneous action of the nerve- 

 centres. In infants there is frequent spontaneous 

 movement of the head as of other parts. Head 



