120 HUME IV 



quite unawares, my muscular effort is adjusted to 

 the expectation. 



The process of strengthening generic memories 

 of succession, and, at the same time, intensifying 

 expectations of succession, is what is commonly 

 called verification. The impression B has fre- 

 quently been observed to follow the impression A. 

 The association thus produced is represented as 

 the memory, A -> B. When the impression A 

 appears again, the idea of B follows, associated 

 with that of the immediate appearance of 

 the impression B. If the impression B does 

 appear, the expectation is said to be verified ; 

 while the memory A -> B is strengthened, and 

 gives rise in turn to a stronger expectation. And 

 repeated verification may render that expectation 

 so strong that its non -verification is incon- 

 ceivable. 



