54 



DISCUS SIC. . 



That one trial, daily, or at longer intervals, con- 

 sumes less time,and,as a consequence, less energy, is of 

 some physiological interest. One might argue that after 

 the first trial and the rat had a little food, the second 

 trial would heighten the tendency to the same movements 

 which, in the first trial, proveluseful, and this tendency 

 would he more beneficial in all succeeding trials up 

 to a point when the animal becomes slightly fatigued. 

 The effect of one trial would be to diminish the re- 

 sistance so that the second trial would evoke responses 

 more easily. There would take place a process of sum- 

 mat ion, and facilitation or "Bahnung" would be accomplished. 

 This is, when all things are equal, a regular process in 

 the functioning of reflexes. But this does not seem to 

 be the case when several trials are offered in succession. 

 Trials distributed over several days consume less time 

 and less energy. 



