Psycho-mnemonic Phenomena 323 



repeated a great number of times and it is in just this 

 that the mnemonic phenomenon consists. 



One could evidently say the same thing of the optic 

 phenomenon, that is to say, of any series of colors or 

 specific luminous vibrations which succeed one another 

 in space or time. 



Ribot has rightly said that "There is not one memory, 

 but memories; that there is not one seat of memory, 

 but particular seats for each particular memory." 23Q 

 And, according to our theory, each mnemonic element 

 would just constitute a particular seat for each elementary 

 sensation or each particular specific impression. 



In this sense also, that is to say on the condition 

 that the expression "nervous elements" be not disjoined 

 from the conception of elementary specific accumulators 

 or mnemonic elements, we can accept the idea of memory 

 which this investigator (Ribot) has put forward: "If 

 we attempt," writes he, "to conceive a good memory and 

 to express this in physiological terms, we must figure 

 to ourselves a great number of nervous elements, each 

 modified in a particular manner, each taking part in one 

 combination and probably capable of entering into sev- 

 eral. Memory has then static and dynamic bases. Its 

 strength is in relation to their number and stability." 237 



"It has been asked," continues Ribot, "if each nerve 

 cell can preserve several different modifications or if 

 once modified it is forever polarized. The number of 

 cerebral cells being about 600,000,000 according to the 

 calculations of Meynert (and Sir Lionel Beale gives a 

 much higher figure) the hypothesis of a single impression 



2S8 Ribot: Les maladies de la memoire. P. n. 

 Ribot : Ibid. P. 32. 



237 



