while the French, which was acquired in school by reading and exercise-writing, is visual and hand-motor.[1] It is interesting also to note the joyous recognition which young children show, when they speak a new vowel or consonant sound correctly. The memory of the correct sound can not, in this case evidently, be from the motor centers.[2] (4) There is evidence of direct functional connection between the visual (and auditory) seat and the center of motor discharge. Here I may best give the words of Janet, who writes in view of the pathological evidence: “this hypothesis is confirmed by investigations on anaesthetic hysterics. In my opinion, it is impossible to explain the fact that these persons preserve their power of movement intact, in spite of the absolute loss of kinaesthetic sensations and images, unless we admit that movement may be directly stimulated by visual and auditory pictures. There are individuals with whom the auditory image of a word suffices for its pronunciation.”[3] (5) The law of ‘dynamogenesis,’ in accordance with which every sensory stimulation tends to bring about a motor discharge, indicates such a direct connection in cases of closely associated function. Féré demonstrates that speaking makes the hand-grasp stronger, that seeing colors and hearing sounds influence the motor centers; so it is altogether probable that stimulations of sight and hearing react directly to stimulate the motor speech centers.[4] (6) Cases may be cited of direct antagonism between memories of words
- ↑ A similar case is reported by Ballet, loc. cit., p. 62.
- ↑ At the risk of too much personality (of which, however, the literature of this topic is necessarily full), I may quote the following about a two-year-old child, written in a letter by her aunt, who was far from intending it as a psychological observation or for publication: “She rejoices greatly, when she succeeds in sounding a new letter. The other day she achieved l, and went about telling everybody, ‘Baby can say sleep and slipper.’ This morning I am informed that she can say ‘save’ and ‘give’ (letter v). She notices at once herself, when she can pronounce the word as the rest of us do–no one tells her.”
- ↑ Pierre Janet, Automatisme Psychologique, p. 60. The common cases of patients who can copy, when they can not initiate writing and speech, are in evidence.
- ↑ Féré cites his results in support of Stricker’s contention; see his Sensation et Mouvement. He fails, however, to distinguish between the direct motor effect of a sensation, and the roundabout motor effect–i. e., through the kinaesthetic center–which latter is required by Stricker’s view.
