Chapter XX 



NEURAL INTEGRATION 



Neural and Not Fsycliical Phenomena the Subject of ThU 



Chapter 



THE fact should be firmly fixed in mind at the outset 

 that in this chapter we have nothing to do with tlic 

 organism's consciousness and volition. We are to deal with 

 the nervous system purely on the basis of its physical activi- 

 ties. Whether or not consciousness or something of the es- 

 sential nature of it appertains to part or all of the activities 

 to be treated we do not have to decide, so far as this discus- 

 sion is concerned. Our task here is to be strictly anatomical 

 and physiological, and not at all psychological. 



Distinction Between Developmental and Functional 



Integration 



The discussion may be opened by calling attention again 

 to a matter noticed incidentally in the last chapter, namely 

 the relative parts played by internal secretions and the ner- 

 vous mechanism in integrating the developing organism on 

 the one hand, and the functioning organism on the otiier. 

 We saw that the role of internal secretions in preserving 

 developmental equilibrium in the individual is so conspicu- 

 ous as to throw the strictly ])hysio-logical role of tlie sub- 

 stances somewhat into the background. Nevertheless as evi- 

 dence, particularly clinical evidence, lias made clear, tlieir 

 part in functional equilibrium is far-reaching. 



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