Dr. Noyes’s investigations seem to corroborate the theory that not only
the lower but also “the higher activities of the brain are also subject
to a rhythmic rise and fall synchronous with vascular dilatation and
contraction.” Mr. Bolton publishes the results of his examination of the
span of memory in the Grammar Schools of Worcester, Mass. The memory
span measuring the power of concentrated and prolonged attention,
increases with age rather than with the growth of intelligence. The
girls have better memories than the boys. Memory can be increased by
practice. The tests made before and after school do not show that the
pupils suffer fatigue from the day’s work. Memory-images before they
are completely lost first suffer a confusion of order, then a loss of
certain of its elements which are often replaced by similar elements.
Previous ideas being one of the factors of confusion. Professor Jastrow’s
article presents a description of a series of experiments made in his
psychological laboratory. He reproduces the Zöllner figures, briefly
summarising their different interpretations by Zöllner, Hering, Aubert,
Classen, Lipps, Hoppe, Wundt, Pisco, and Helmholtz. He further presents a
study of involuntary movements of the hand on the glass plate apparatus,
and describes the experiments of time measurement in classifying ideas,
and in finding a given object within a given field. Mr. Fraser defends
the Natural Realism of the Scotch school, making the tactumotor sense the
ultimate test of reality. (Worcester, Mass.: Clark University.)
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