CHILD'S ATTENTION ATTRACTED. 249 



most commonly observable while the child is suck- 

 ing from its bottle. 



Now, as to the child when four montJis old, we 

 say that the attention is easily attracted, because 

 the sight of objects and sounds cause the head to 

 be moved (by reflex action) towards the light or 

 source of sound. More than this, after the stimulus 

 of the sight of an object has caused the head and 

 eyes to be turned towards the object, the further 

 stimulation of the brain may inhibit the kinetic 

 functions of the brain, arresting all movement ; * this 

 often happens when the attention is attracted. On 

 the other hand, the sight of an object, after it has 

 caused the head and eyes to be turned towards the 

 object, may increase the amount of movement in 

 the child. The difference in the effects of the visual 

 impression is an expression of the condition of the 

 child. 



Playfulness is probably the result of spontaneous 

 movements, together with an increased susceptibility 

 to reflex action. The " playful child " has a happy 

 face, owing to the healthy tone of the facial muscles 

 and their nerve-centres. 



The table given on page 250, is for a healthy, 

 well-developed infant of good class. 



Perhaps of all the means of expression enume- 

 rated, those which indicate impressionability are 

 the most important, and in some particulars the 

 most difficult to understand. 



Thoroughly to grasp this conception we must 

 consider the attributes of the property " impressioii- 



* See chap. vi. p. 101, Figr. 0. 



