The associative processes of the guinea pig : a study of the psychical development of an animal with a nervous system well medullated at birth : a dissertation submitted to the Faculties of the Graduate Schools of Arts, Literature and Science, in candidacy for the degree of doctor of philosophy (Department of Philosophy) / by Jessie Blount Allen.

  • Allen, Jessie Blount.
Date:
[1904]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The associative processes of the guinea pig : a study of the psychical development of an animal with a nervous system well medullated at birth : a dissertation submitted to the Faculties of the Graduate Schools of Arts, Literature and Science, in candidacy for the degree of doctor of philosophy (Department of Philosophy) / by Jessie Blount Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    31/74 (page 321)
    The reactions took place almost mechanically. The box seemed to be the thing-to-be-run-into. It was always in the same position. In this way, whether the door was open or closed seemed to make no difference; it was pushed open rapidly when the position of the entrance became an habitual one, and the reaction was not perceptibly lengthened. From the preliminary test it was concluded that the guinea pig would react to a stimulus under laboratory conditions. The elements entering into the situation were (a) the sight and odor of food ; (b) the sight of the box, and association of the gen- eral environment with food ; (c) the association of a certain series of kinesthetic sensations with the satisfaction of hunger. Test VII. Distinction of stimuli. An attempt was made to determine what the stimulus was which induced the reaction to the problem. The food was covered with a glass dish, and care was taken to eliminate all possible odor from the box. There seemed to be no shyness of the glass dish as it was treated with indiffer- ence when left in the cage. Nevertheless, the possibility that fear might not have been observed though present, must be borne in mind. Jan. 31. Time. I. .5 min. 2. .75 min. 3- .0S3 min. 4- .083 min. The first time I did not give any food when the guinea pig got into the box. The effect of this disappointment is seen in the second reaction ; at that time I gave food, then removed it quickly. The same was done in the third reaction. At this point in the experiment it seems certain that a smell stimulus is not necessary to produce the reaction after the situation has been learned. In order to determine if possible what stimulus is the strongest a choice experiment was introduced. A dish was arranged in a wire box with the carrot in plain sight but covered with glass. Into another and similar wire