1897.] Psychology. 823 
In each series of such experiments, the first point touched each time 
remains the same, the problem being to determine the distance from 
this point at which the two stimulations seem to be spatially different, 
and the distance at which the direction of this difference is first recog- 
nized. These two determinations may be called the thresholds for 
difference and direction respectively. In the results it is found that 
the subject, as a rule, mistakes the direction of the second point from 
the first after he has apparently become aware that the two points are 
not the same. The inference has been drawn that the difference 
threshold is shorter than the direction threshold. But a careful study 
of the answers given seems to show that this apparent recognition of 
difference without direction is again due to suggestion. This entire 
group of experiments seems to sustain the inferences drawn in the 
former group as to the ultimate nature of the process involved in all 
tactual space perception. It is an assimilation process throughout, in 
which visual, tactual and motor elements play the most important 
parts. In cases where, as in these experiments, an extensive and rapid 
reduction of the threshold, and a development of frequent illusions 
of the kind described, occur as the result of practice, the explanation 
of these phenomena is to be sought, not in any change in the physio- 
logical structure or functions of the tactual end-organs, nor of the cen- 
tres with which these end-organs communicate, but rather in a process 
through which suggestion-influences get established in the reactions of 
the subject’s attention —G. A. Tawney, Beloit College, Wise. 
The Annee Biologique.—The new annual which has been 
started by Yves Delage under this title has adopted a broad policy 
with reference to psychology. The first number (that for 1895) has 
just appeared, and we are pleased to note that a large section, of over 
100 pages, is devoted to this department under the head of “ Mental 
Functions.” A portion of this space is taken up with an able review 
of recent theories of the structure of the nervous system, by Mlle. W. 
Szezawinsky, but most of the section lies within the domain of psychol- 
ogy proper. Prof. Binet furnishes a review of the development of ex- 
perimental methods, which, though necessarily brief, contains a fair 
résumé of the change that has come over this field within the past few 
years. He sums up, in particular, the work on memory, the esthetic 
sense, and the physiological concomitants of mental activity, where 
considerable progress was made in the year 1895. The remainder of 
the section consists of summaries by various writers of the leading 
works and articles which appeared during that year. These are, in 
some cases, very full; about sixty contributions are noticed in all. 
