Search

Copyright of Acta Zoologica is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article presents a critique to various papers of Jack Alroy Holmes that appeared in the "Reading Research Quarterly" related to his basic assumptions on the substrata-factor theory. Holmes paper could not define any sensible meaning of substrata-factor theory. An examination of an earlier publication by Holmes reveals that a substrata factor is apparently a score on a test which somebody found to be related to a score on the criterion test for speed of reading. The reviewers were somewhat disoriented by Holmes's insistence that his exploratory ideas represented a theory. Several problems are apparent in Holmes's procedure following the derivation of the initial regression equation. Holmes says little about problems of validity. In the section on "neurological evidence" Holmes presents not one iota of evidence. Instead, the reader is offered by quotation scraps of theories about the makeup and operation of the brain. In his work to date Holmes has not developed a theoretical framework for reading research. He has some idea that there must be some connection between what neurologists are finding and saying about the brain and what underlies the ability to read. Beyond that, since hypotheses have not been developed concerning the underlying variables and their relationships, Holmes has turned to analysis of the interrelationships among scores on tests which have been found to be related to reading performance criteria.

A considerable number of experiments, reported since 1965, has been concerned with cerebral hemisphere differences and the processing of tachistoscopic visual information. The present paper critically examines the findings from laboratory experiments with normal Ss and from clinical experiments with brain-damaged patients. Three general conclusions are reached from this analysis: (1) Much of the available evidence on tachistoscopic laterality differences and hemispheric asymmetries is ambiguous, equivocal, and inconsistent; this is attributable to inadequate methodological considerations and misinterpretations of response indicators. (2) The reliable evidence suggests the hemispheres differ in efficiency to initiate specific responses and in ability to analyse/encode visual information. (3) Future research into hemispheric determinants should supplement traditional recognition-accuracy indicators with non-vocal, non-identificatory measures in order to separate response-initiation from visual-analysis effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a cyanogen bromide digest of the encephalitogenic basic protein of human brain a polypeptide—derived from the N-terminal end of the protein— was isolated and shown to induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. At low doses this peptide induced typical histological lesions unaccompanied by clinical symptoms and humoral antibody. Digestion of the protein with trypsin did not destroy its encephalitogenic activity. The basic protein of human myelin contains more than one encephalitogenic determinant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently researchers W. Kohler and H. Wallach presented a theory of the function of the brain during perception, this theory has received considerable experimental attention. Kohler and Wallach claim that a polarization occurs in brain tissue which is activated during a perception. This polarization leaves the tissue in a state in which it is more rapidly polarized when subsequently activated, and this polarization, or satiation, will produce certain specific changes in subsequent percepts which can be checked in a subjects behavior. They predict and find a figural aftereffect, which is presumably the results of a change in the conductivity of that part of the brain upon which a contour is projected. Since the time of the original study, much further work has been performed both by Kohler and his co-workers, and by others, most of which has extended and amplified the empirical support for the theory. Figural aftereffects have been demonstrated to occur in the predicted direction in two-dimensional vision, the third dimension in vision, in kinesthesis, and in audition.

This article focuses on the author's views on the contributions of cognitive learning theory to an individual's personality. In some respects, the cognitive theory pictures brain processes in simpler terms than does the atomistically inclined S-R theory. But, in some other respects, the cognitive theory conceives of these organized brain processes as achieving much more complexity than is envisaged in anything described by S-R theory. These brain processes are not merely "discriminatory processes." They are not processes which merely pick out or use something which necessarily is present in the afferent neural material. Cognitive learning theory may be characterized in the following way. It believes in Lloyd Morgan's principle to keep one's interpretations as simple as possible. But it interprets that principle in this way as a recommendation that one should get as rich a knowledge of facts as possible, and that one should keep the principles as simple as can possibly be and yet account for those facts. It does not understand Lloyd Morgan's canon as the command, "Keep your principles simple." Especially when one tries to understand personality, one needs to make much more use of this type of learning theory which tries to deal with relatively intangible as well as with relatively tangible factors rather than being content to work with the latter alone.

The article cites that subcortical involvement, specifically basal ganglia surgery performed to relieve Parkinsonian tremor and rigidity, has sometimes been held responsible for psychological changes. Tests were administered individually to the 22 Parkinsonian subjects, 1 to 3 days before surgery, during the immediate postoperative period, and in follow-up examinations. The median time interval between pre- and post-operative tests was 7.5 days, range 5 to 13 days. The median time interval between pre-operative and follow-up tests was 101 days, range 84 to 127. Ratios derived from intracerebral landmarks were used as indices for lesion parameters to decrease the effects of marked anatomic variation among individual brains.

The article discusses the right-or-left-handedness of human beings in terms of genetics and heredity. A vast area of biological theorizing and interpretation revolve around hereditary. Mendelian theory had detected genes and chromosomes to be responsible for various characteristics of human beings. The use of hand by a human being is decided by the difference in development of a portion of his brain. It has been experimentally established that the portion of brain which grows earlier in embryonic life dominates the actions of matured body. Also is the fact that what one does and the way of doing is dominated by the hand used.

The transcephalic direct current potentials are slowly changing voltages measured between specified diploic-emissary vein distributions on the intact surface of the scalp. Significant correlations have been found between these voltages and various psychological functions which appear consistent with the functional properties of the subjacent cortex. In an effort to specify the location of the source of these potentials, virtually every conceivable voltage generating tissue and structure of the head was studied for its dc voltage effects both under maximal stimulation and maximal inhibition (i.e. surgical ablation or chemical inactivation). Structures studied were: the various layers of the scalp itself; scalp sweat glands; the nervous and vascular supply of the scalp: the structures of the orbit; the muscular distribution of the head: the skull: the meninges; and finally the vascular supply of the cortex and the cortex itself. It was found that no structure played any significant dc generating role except the cortex. It was also possible to demonstrate a cortex to scalp circuit pathway which runs principally within a centrifugally running intravascular system. It appears warranted to conclude that transcephalically measured direct current potentials are generated by the cortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment is described which was designed to test the hypothesis that brief visual stimuli would not be perceived when they occurred during certain phases of the EEG alpha rhythm. The results agreed with the hypothesis. It was concluded that the alpha rhythm is a correlate of the activity of a 'neuronic shutter' which periodically prevents the reception or processing of visual information by the brain. The procedure used was such that there was no necessity for the subjects to pay attention to the stimuli; indeed, efforts were made to avoid such attention. This methodology was thought to be of importance in obtaining a positive result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the empirical manifestations of a captive mind and its effect on the creative development of a human being in his social interactions. A captive mind has the following features. It is the product of higher institutions of learning whose way of thinking is dominated by Western thought in an imitative and uncritical manner. A captive mind is uncreative and incapable of raising original problems. The captive mind is found in all fields of knowledge like social sciences and humanities. At the undergraduate, and even at more advanced levels, the phenomenon of the captive mind is real and pervasive. They do not functional properly in the society. It bars a person to be innovative in his thinking. Last but not the least, many creative personalities and inventors were not university teachers.

Unequivocal demonstration of the incorporation of [14C]cyanate into brain proteins as a carbamyl derivative rather than via decomposition to CO2 is presented; this is based on the isolation of radioactive hydantoins and on the loss of radioactivity on hydrolysis of the hydantoins. The influence of conditions on the extent of carbamylation of brain proteins in vitro by cyanate are presented. The optimum pH is about 7 and the carbamylation is dependent on temperature, concentration and time. There was no detectable difference in the rate and/or extent of cyanate incorporation in vitro between normal and previously carbamylated animals. Experiments in vivo show a linear increase in the carbamylation of brain proteins with intraperitoneals injection of cyanate up to the highest concentration tested (2μmol/g). The extent of carbamylation increases progressively with repeated injections for about 3 days. After this time with further injections there is increased incorporation, but at a lower rate. Experiments in vivo show that animals who have been previously carbamylated with non-radioactive cyanate incorporate about 255 less cyanate than control animals when given a pulse of [14C]cyanate. Fractionation of the major cell components revealed cyanate incorporation into all fractions but a higher incorporation in the supernatant fraction. When brain was fractionated by differential extraction there was incorporation in all the fractions, including the water, salt and solvent-insoluble residue. Although some differences were detected, additional studies are needed to determine whether carbamylation affects proteins turnover. The higher sensitivity of experiments in vivo for discrimination of protein carbamylation is discussed in relation to the present work and to recent work from others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract for the article "Man Viewed as a Machine," published in the April 1955 issue of the journal "Scientific American." Discussions of electronic computers, a logical machine, the Turing machine, a suggested "universal" machine, and a reproducing machine; Details of machines that have not yet imitated the human brain's method of storing and recovering information.

We have studied EEG asymmetry in normal subjects during verbal and spared tasks. Recordings were made from the left and right temporal and parietal areas, and the ratios of average power (1-35 Hz) in homologous leads T[SUB4]/T[SUB3] and P[SUB4]/P[SUB3] were computed. This ratio (right over left) was greater in the verbal tasks than in the spatial tasks. With this measure we have been able to distinguish between these two cognitive modes as they occur in normal subjects, using simple scalp recording. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral administration of L-tryptophan increases brain serotonin levels by following normal 5-hydroxyindole pathways (Moir & Eccleston, 1968). Since recent studies (Jouvet, 1969) suggest that serotonin is important In controlling sleep mechanisms, L.tryptophan provides a useful method for investigating further the role of serotonin in sleep. In two experiments, EEG sleep patterns from 21 young adult males were examined following moderate (7.5 g) and high (12 g) oral doses of L.tryptophan. Moderate doses produced sedative effects (reports of extreme drowsiness and reduced time awake) accompanied by increased slow-wave sleep. The only effects on REM parameters were a trend (in some Ss) to early onset of stage REM, a small decrease in the period of the REM cycle, and decreased density of rapid eye movements. With the high dose, Ss again reported extreme drowsiness, and time to sleep onset was decreased. However, changes in SW sleep and waking time appeared only as non-significant trends. In the high-dose group, percent of REM sleep was markedly increased, due to early onset of stage REM and to increased duration of REM episodes during the second half of the night. EEG sleep patterns on recovery nights following large doses of tryptophan were not systematically different from baseline nights. These results indicate that the changes in sleep patterns produced by L-tryptophan, presumably acting through 5-hydroxyindole pathways, are dependent on dose. The findings are consistent with the idea that serotonin, or one of its metabolites, is involved in the mechanisms controlling both SW and REM sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cites several biochemical factors that modify the transcephalic DC potential. Definition of the DC potential as a voltage recorded across the midline surface of the head between the frontal and occipital emissary vein distributions; Neuronal and biochemical modulation of the DC potential; Production of negative frontal shifts through the intracarotid injections of histamine.

A brief general theory is proposed linking the transcephalic DC potential, which is recorded on the midline surface of the head over the frontal and occipital emissary veins, with a certain functional organization of the brain. From this it is proposed that interoceptive or protopathic afferents--carotid sinus, carotid body, vestibular, and visceral---should produce a positive frontal deflection, while exteroceptive or epicritic afferents--tactile, auditory, proprioceptive, gustatory, visual, and olfactory--should produce a negative frontal DC shift. It is proposed that hunger promotes a negative frontal base line, satiety a positive one, and anxiety increases the base-line variance of a group. A relationship is proposed between frontal negativity and body metabolic peaks. It is proposed that a noxious exteroceptive stimulus produces a positive frontal shift, despite its cortical projection. The hypotheses were tested using normal adult male Ss and good agreement between results and predictions was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Four multiple molecular forms of NADPH- dependent aldehyde reductase are isolated by ion-exchange and gel chromatography from human brains. Using the same procedure two multiple forms of NADPH- dependent aldehyde reductase are found in rat brain. The molecular weight of two of the forms of human brain aldehyde reductase is 4000 and of the other two it is 4000. Large differences with respect to substrate specificity with a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes are obderved between the multiple enxyme forms of each species. All enzyme forms use NADPH ae coenzyme; additionally one enzyme of each species can use NADPH as well. Classical inhibitors of aldehyde and alcohol dehydrogenase do not affect the activity of the multiple molecular forms of aldehyde reductase from human and rat brain, but psychoactive substances such as barbiturates and chlorpronizine as well "biogenic" acids are inhibitory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both [14C]carbamoyl phosphate and sodium [14C]cyanate injected in rats were extensively incorporated into blood proteins, red cells and tissues, including brain. The rate of cyanate binding to blood protein plateaus 4 h after intraperitoneal administration of [14C]cyanate. The rapid disappearance of free [14C]cyanate was shown to be largely due to protein binding and the release of 14CO2 was found to decrease sharply at 4 h when cyanate binding is essentially complete. Retention of carbamoylated proteins was measured after injection of [14C]cyanate, and at 110 days, when bound radioactivity in blood protein was negligible, brain protein retained about 50% of the radioactivity found at 6 h. A dose-related decrease m learning ability was observed when rats injected with 50, 100 and 150 µmol cyanate per day were tested in a Lashley maze No. III filled with water. This retardation persisted when the animals were reused nine weeks after termination of cyanate injection. When retested at eight months, no retardation could be demonstrated. At this time, only 10% modified proteins should remain in the brain according to the data presented on retention of carbamoylated proteins. The application of this data to a biochemical model for learning based on synaptic facilitation by modified proteins is discussed, as well as the implied effect on humans treated for sickle-cell disease by administration of cyanate or carbamoyl phosphate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. An NADPH-linked aldehyde reductase has been purified some 600-fold from the supernatant fraction of a pig brain homogenate. 2. Subcellular distribution studies show that the enzyme is almost exclusively located in the cystosol. 3. The enzyme has a molecular weight of 29000 and an isoelectric point of 5.8. 4. The enzyme reduces a wide range of aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes, including some biogenic aldehydes. Ketones are not reduced. 5. Specificity studies carried out on the enzyme suggest that substituted phenylglycolaldehydes are reduced far more readily than the corresponding substituted phenylacetaldehydes. 6. Ethanol, reserpine and several aldehyde dehydrogenase and liver alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitors do not affect the activity of brain NADPH-linked aldehyde reductase. 0.1 mM sodium barbitone markedly inhibits the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vinyl-ether linkage of plasmalogen was cleaved by rat brain homogenates; practically all activity was localized in the soluble fraction of the homogenate. The cleavage of the vinyl-ether linkage was tightly coupled to the reduction of molecular oxygen; about 3.5—4 mol oxygen were reduced for each mol vinyl-ether cleaved. Both the reduction of oxygen and the cleavage of vinyl-ether ceased if the reaction was run in an atmosphere of nitrogen or if antioxidants such as N,N-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, butylated hydroxytoluene or Quercetin were used, in the presence of oxygen. Either reaction was also inhibited by the addition of the following chelators: EDTA, citrate, dipyridyl, desferal and o-phenanthroline. A detergent such as sodium deoxycholate was required for optimal activity. The reaction (i.e., vinyl-ether cleavage or oxygen uptake) was directly proportional to protein concentration and time and had an optimal pH at about 7.3. When reaction rates were plotted against substrate concentration, hyperbolic curves of the Michaelis-Menten type were obtained. The active component of rat brain supernatant was dialyzable, was not inactivated when heated for 10 min at 100 °C and did not precipitate in a saturated ammonium sulfate solution. This suggests that cleavage of the vinyl-ether linkage of plasmalogen is catalyzed by a thermostable, low-molecular-weight, non-protein component of rat brain supernatant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-molecular-weight component of rat brain supernatant, which catalyzed the oxygen-dependent cleavage of tile vinyl-ether linkage of plasmalogen, was purified by chromatography on SE-Sephadex and DEAE-Sephadex. A compound was obtained with an absorption peak at 266 nm. It catalyzed the commensurate vinyl-ether cleavage and oxygen reduction. Evidence is presented that this purified active component is identical with, or very similar to ascorbic acid. Commercial ascorbic acid mimicked the vinyl-ether cleaving properties of the active component of rat brain supernatant. Contrary to the rat brain supernatant, the purified active component was unstable and lost activity on heating or storage. Furthermore, vinyl-ether cleavage and oxygen uptake ceased after 2—3 min. Addition of a protein of rat brain, which by itself was inactive, extended the reaction time for 15—20 min. In the course of the reaction, 3.5—4 mol oxygen were consumed and 0.3 tool of ascorbate disappeared for each mole of vinyl-ether-linkage cleaved. Small quantities of compounds which reacted with thiobarbituric acid were also formed in the course of the reaction. The products of the reaction were lysolecithin and several split products produced from the aldehydogenic moiety of the plasmalogen molecule: these reacted with p-nitrophenylhydrazine. Using silicic acid chromatography, about 10—20% of the total carbonyl-containing compounds were eluted with chloroform—methanol (95:5, by vol.), these were identified as pentadecanal in the presence of smaller quantities of heptadecanal. The p-nitrophenylhydrazones of the products were prepared and separated into 3—4 spots on thin-layer silica gel plates. The fastest moving spot was identified by infrared and mass spectrometry as a hydroxy-aldehyde, probably α-hydroxyhexadecanal. A reaction mechanism is proposed as follows: A ferrous-ascorbate complex reduces and forms an “active” oxygen. This attacks the vinyl-ether-linkage of the plasmalogen forming a diol. Hydrolysis of this diol yields α-hydroxy-hexadecanal; oxidative cleavage of this bond yields pentadecanal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosyl ceramides were isolated from young mouse brains by a combination of column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. Analysis by gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry of the trimethylsilyl ether derivatives revealed that about 200/0 of these compounds contained 2-hydroxy acids (mainly cerebronic acid, 2-hydroxy behenic acid, and 2-hydroxy stearic acid). The rest contained non-hydroxy acids (stearic acid was most abundant, arachidic acid, lignoceric acid and behenic acid came next). Unsaturated acids were virtually absent. The major long chain base was C18-sphingenine. Small amounts of C18-sphinganine were also present. Of interest was the finding that C20-sphingenine constituted about 20% of the total long chain bases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine brain cerebrosides were degraded to ceramides on a milligram scale, using a procedure by Carter et al. These were separated into the 2-hydroxy acid and non-hydroxy acid containing ceramides and subsequently according to degree of unsaturation of the constituent acids. Four groups of ceramides were obtained. Each group was separated into molecular species by gas- liquid chromatography as the trimethylsilyl ether derivative. Structures of the molecular species were determined by mass spectrometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of ATP on the aerobic oxidation of succinate and on the succinic dehydrogenase activity of isolated rat brain mitochondria has been studied. 1. The addition of dinitrophenol to) brain mitochondria @ahth succinate as substrate produced a small activating effect of oxygen uptake which was followed by inhibition of respiration; the further addition of ATP produced a high rate of respiration. 2. This effect of ATP was enhanced by added Mg++ and oligomycin and was diminished. but not abolished, by inorganic phosphate. 3. Experiments were conducted which indirectly indicated that oxaloacetate may be involved in the inhibition of the aerobic oxidation of succinate in fresh brain mitochondria incubated with dinitrophenol; however, attempts to find out if ATP removed oxaloacetate through a particular ATP requiring metabolic, pathway were unsuccessful. 4. In aged, sonicated, and frozen and thawed brain mitochondria incubated with dinitrophenol. ATP still activated the aerobic oxidation of succinate. 5. The assay of succinic dehydrogenase (EC 1.3.99.1) in aged brain mitochondria revealed that ATP diminished the Km for succinate and increased they 31 Vmax of succinic dehydrogenase. ATP also produced a shift in the PH optimum of succinic dehydrogenase and a partial protection of the enzyme against heat, denaturation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activity of acid hydrolases on 13 substrates has been measured in the liver of normal human subjects and of 32 patients with various forms of mucopolysaccharidoses. The most important abnormalities may be summarized as follows: 1. In 3 patients, there was a complete absence of α-fucosidase and an excess of fucose in the mucopolysaccharide fraction. The enzymatic deficiency extended to the brain, lung, kidney and urine. In the liver there was also a large increase in the activity of several acid hydrolases. mostly of the α-galactosidase and of the β-xylosidase 2. In 5 patients with pseudo-Hurler disease (generalized gangliosidosis), the activity of β-galactosidase, at pH 3.6 was absent and this defect also extended to other tissues. This enzymatic deficiency explains the known accumulation of galactose-rich mucopo]ysaccharides and of galactosyl-N-acetylgalactosaminyl-(N-acetyl-neuraminyl) -galactosylceramide (GM1 ganglioside) in the tissues. Several enzymatic activities were greatly elevated, mostly that of α-fueosidase, α-galactosidase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase 3. In 14 patients with an usual form of Hurler syndrome, the activity of acid β-galactosidase was markedly reduced and this abnormality extended also to the brain and the derm but not to the kidney, spleen and leucocytes. The N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidases. the β-glucuronidase and the &betal;-fucosidase were much more active than normally. 4. In two siblings only, affected by an unusual type of Hurler syndrome, there was a marked elevation of β-galactosiclase. The etiological significance of these findings is discussed and a classification of the mucopolysaccharidoses, based on the activity of the lysosomal enzymes in the liver, is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple procedure for the extraction and purification of monoamine oxidase from pig brain mitochondria is described. The enzyme purified in this way appears to be homogeneous by cellulose acetate electrophoresis and the molecular weight was estimated to be approximately 102,000 by gel-filtration. The purified enzyme is inhibited by iproniazid, chelating agents and a sulphydryl reagent. The Km value for tyramine has been determined as has its Ki value for high substrate inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A single dose of 1 mg. of wax D fractions of several different strains of human type M. tuberculosis when injected in water-in-oil emulsion together with 16 mg. of homologous brain caused a high percentage of guinea pigs to develop encephalitis. Wax D fractions of several strains of bovine type and one strain of avian type M. tuberculosis and of M. phlei were found ineffective in inducing encephalitis when injected in the same dose and under similar conditions, although M. phlei and delipidated bovine type M. tuberculosis Marmorek bacilli were effective. Cord factor (trehalose dimycolate) and crude wax C fractions from human type M. tuberculosis were ineffective. These results are discussed in relation to the suggestion that the encephalitogenic activity of mycobacteria is due to the presence of a peptide consistent of alanine, glutamic and diaminopimelic acids linked to a glycolipid. The precise correspondence between the activity of a wide variety of bacillary fractions as encephalitogenic agents in causing an increase in serum antibody to ovalbumin, and in inducing severe corneal reactivity to ovalbumin gives further support to the hypothesis that the encephalitis is the result of an isoimmunization process, in which the mycobacteria increase the immune response to an antigenic constituent of the brain tissue. Encephalitogenic bacillary fractions produce histological reactions at the injection site and in the draining lymph nodes characterized by the formation of large numbers of epithelioid cells. It is suggested that these cells play an essential role in the adjuvant response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a short screening test for organic deficit. This study examines the merits of 17 short tests culled from the literature or suggested by the authors' experience as indices of brain damage and applied to samples of normals and patients from all available diagnostic categories. Because definitive evidence of the validity of these tests for the specific evaluation of brain damage was lacking, the experimental design provides for an analysis of any diagnostic patterns that might appear.

The article presents information about comparison of the Grassi Block substitution test with the Wechsler-Bellevue in the diagnosis of organic brain damage. The present study reports the results from the use of a relatively new test for organically involved cases, the Grassi Block Substitution Test (GBST) and the Wechsler-Bellevue Intelligence Scale, as instruments for the diagnosis of organic brain damage. The findings from the use of the GBST are compared with those based upon Wechsler's signs for organicity and Wechsler's Mental Deterioration Index. The organic group was composed of 24 subjects ranging in age from 15 through 43 years of age. The educational average was eleven years of schooling. All patients were medically and clinically diagnosed as having organic brain damage and all had undergone complete neurological workups.

The article cites an experiment that studied the influence of body position on mental processes. In the experiment six subjects were asked to interpret the same plate--8BM of the TAT--and six were asked to respond to a personal letter, five unmarried men to identical letters supposedly written by their girl friends, a married man to an anonymous letter concerning his wife. The hypothesis is formulated that body position exerts considerable influence on. apperception, thinking, and emotions. The reclining position has a tendency to remove these processes from reality considerations and consequently allows greater complacency.

The article investigates whether dominant and non-dominant hemisphere brain damage affects the Wechsler-Bellevue subtests differentially. A statistical analysis of the Wechsler-Bellevue subtest differences between a group of dominant hemisphere brain-damaged patients and a group of non-dominant hemisphere brain-damaged patients is presented. A short discussion suggests that the functions of the non-dominant and dominant cerebral hemispheres may be compared to those of a front office (executive) and a warehouse (storage), respectively.

Thirty-three male "alcoholics" and other heavy drinkers were examined by air-encephalography, psychometry and the LEG to determine the incidence of brain-damage. Seventy per cent had radiologically significant atrophy and in 65 per cent of these, psychometry supported a diagnosis of brain-damage, although this was clinically apparent in only one case. Cortical atrophy seemed more closely related to intellectual damage than ventricular atrophy, and the EEG was relatively unhelpful. The term "omega-alcoholic" is proposed for a type of drinker not previously described. Alcoholic brain damage is not uncommon and may be a factor in heavy drinkers with diagnoses other than "alcoholism". For both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons, combined radiological and psycho- metric assessment is suggested as a routine measure in the management of patients who drink heavily. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents autobiographical intellectual profile of author A.R. Luria. The main activity in the scientific life of the present writer is his role in helping to create a new branch of science, neuropsychology, the analysis of the origins within the brain of man's mental activity and the application of psychological methods to the study of the functional organization of the brain. The theoretical significance of this new branch lies in the fact that it enables a closer analysis to be made of the nature and internal structure of man's mental processes. Its practical importance resides in the fact that it provides a scientific basis for the diagnosis of local lesions of the brain and for the restoration of complex forms of mental activity disturbed by these lesions. Research scientists considered that the human brain had certain inherent properties which enabled it to carry out mental processes. Some authors thought the brain to be a complex assembly of small organs or centers, each with its own strictly defined functions, and they located special centers in the cerebral cortex governing such functions as speech, writing, reading and counting; others believed the brain to be a unified mechanism functioning as an indivisible whole.

Investigations were carried out in order to isolate the brain-specific antigen found in BE preparations of bovine brain. Ammonium sulphate fractionation indicated that this thermostable brain-specific activity was found primarily in the fraction precipitating between 0.00 and 2.00 M concentrations, and more probably, at concentrations between 0.00 and 1.50 M. The brain-specific antigen was better purified by means of column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. It was eluted primarily with 0.25 M sodium phosphate buffer of pH 5.00, in a fraction designated as peak four, This component exhibits ultracentrifugal and electrophoretic homogeneity and is considerably enriched in the specific antigenic activity. This brain-specific component was found to be present in the slowest of the ultracentrifugal peaks seen in the crude preparation; it has a sedimentation coefficient of about 1.8S. Direct chemical analysis showed that this antigen is a kind of glycoprotein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the epidemiological distribution of dysfunctions of the central nervous system (CNS). Such dysfunctions are known to arise from the operation of a broad spectrum of causal variables during the prenatal, postnatal and the natal development changes. Brain damage maybe induced at any point in the life cycle from the earliest changes of embryonic development to the final stages of senescence. Some of the major causal variables of interest include such factors as genetic mutations and chromosomal aberrations. There are major biological and psychological determinants of brain damage. There is, however, another important group of causes, to which little systematic attention has so far been directed.

The article focuses on the science education, its speculative and operative approaches. In its meaning, operative is acting physically with the hands while speculative is acting theoretically with the mind. Speculative are the things developed out of the Pilgrim action while operative by means of levers, pulleys, and ox power the rock. The Pilgrims were operative when it came to agriculture, fishing, hunting, spinning, cooking in brick oven, butter making, liquor, and tobacco. Speculative when it came to Satan, Hell, sin, witches, baptism, card playing, profaning the Sabbath, dancing, killing toads and snakes.

The article focuses on the effects of brain damage on the perception of apparent movement. In 1942, sociologist H. Werner and A. Thuma reported the results of an experiment on apparent movement. In this experiment they used a modified Dodge tachistoscope, with three figures. They presented the apparent movement stimuli in pairs with a break between each pair. They found that a group of brain-damaged children differed from a group of endogenous mental defectives in their reports of apparent movement. The former reported movement with a meaningful clock figure only, while in the latter group movement could be elicited with the two abstract figures as well. The present author repeated this experiment using the same apparatus and procedure, and found very similar results. The mental defectives reported movement with the clock, parallel lines, and right-angle figures, the brain damaged Ss tended to report movement with the clock figure only, and then only in those cases where it was first recognized as a clock. The expected relationship between time interval and apparent movement was not found in either group.

The article presents a study carried out to augment the existing knowledge of the subcommissural apparatus, especially of some weak points such as the innervation of the organ, the composition of its secretion and the ways in which this is given off. As a conclusion an attempt has been made to present a theory of the function of the organ, based on the most recent research. The secretory material released by this organ is very rich in cysteine and probably contains sialic acid too. In primitive vertebrates this secretion is apparently delivered into the brain cavities only, where the ventricular fluid movements condense it to Reissner's fibre.

This article studies the cerebral tube in vertebrates. In connection with the speculations on the phylogenetic significance of the neuromeres, the relations between the cranial nerves and the "segmentation" of the brain has occupied the interest of many investigators. Some even imply that from each neuromere there emanates a pair of brain nerves--from the rostral end of the cerebral tube to the beginning of the primordial spinal cord. At least in the rostral part of the brain, however, it has never been shown that a neuromere is related to any nerve.

This article presents a study of cerebellum and cerebellar pathways of three deep sea fishes: Diaphus, Saurida, and Bathypterois. Materials used in this study is stained by the Weigert, the Weigert-Pal, and iron hematoxylin methods, and is cut in the transverse and sagittal planes. The tractus mesencephalo-cerebellaris anterior was identifies in Diaphus and Saurida. The tractus mesencephalo-cerebellaris posterior was found in all three fishes originating in its usual place, the nucleus of lateralis valvulae. This tract is very large in Diaphus but relatively small in Saurida and Bathypterois.

1. Marchi material of the chameleon brain shows that the tractus opticus accessorius posterior is a crossed tract having its origin in the retina. 2. A number of secondary pathways of the nucleus opticus tegmenti of chameleon were described. 3. A review of the comparative neurology of this structure shows that the so-called basal optic root and basal optic root ganglion of amphibians, reptiles and birds is the same as the tractus peduncularis transversus and the nucleus of the tractus peduncularis transversus of mammals. 4. The writer suggests that the use of the terms 'tractus opticus accessorius posterior' and 'nucleus opticus tegment,' previously used by TSAI ('25) he applied to all animals. 5. The evidence suggests that the nucleus opticus tegmenti is under the influence of divers impulses, such as optic, auditory, and somatic. It may act as a correlation center, the output of which is partly responsible for the control of eye movements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the nervous system of Chameleon vulgaris. An analysis of the brain of Chamelcon has given evidence of a number of modifications in the general plan of the reptilian nervous system. The telencephalon shows a reduced olfactory mechanism and suggests the sence of the true motor cortex. The ventral peduncle of the lateral forebrain bundle is unusually large with the majority of its fibres terminating in two new nuclear masses in the hypothalamus, the nucleus entopeduncularis, and a few in the nucleus ruber.

The development, of the head skeleton of the Acipenserids has not been studied sufficiently. There is a description of the development of this system of organs in the sterlet. Composing the skull of the cartilagenous Ganoiris. As to the visceral skeleton, the order of its formation, is quite similar to that described in the bony fishes and Selachians. Elements of the neurocranium of the sterlet appear at those stages of development, when the brain and the higher senses organs have already reached a considerable degree of differentiation.

The key to a right understanding of the comparative morphology of the mammalian forebrain doubtless is a right and exhaustive interpretation of that brainpart in reptiles. But all living reptiles are not in the same degree important for this purpose as their different groups belong to different branches of the great reptilian phylum, which are more or less removed from the common stemgroup of reptiles and mammals. This stemgroup may be searched for among the cotylosaurians of the permian or a more remote age. The nearer a recent reptile group is related to the cotylosaurians, the more qualified it may he for elucidating the mammalian conditions. As the most archaistic living reptile groups the Rhynchocephalia, the Crocodilia and the Chelonia are generally considered.

The student of comparative brain morphology in lower vertebrates has deeply felt the lack of a nearer knowledge of the brain of Ceratodus and other Dipnoi, the existing descriptions being very insufficient for comparative purposes. Especially the information of the fibre anatomy are very scanty and quite unsatisfactory. This work being made at a time when comparative neurology was in statu nascendi, leaves many important points untreated or obscured by incomplete descriptions. Thus it is for instance impossible to get an opinion from this work about such fundamental questions as those about inversion and evagination of the forebrain hemispheres, about the morphological signification of the "lingula interolfactoria," the nature of the septum et cetera, questions necessary for every comparison with other brains.

A large number of investigators have during the past fifty years been busy studying the selachian brain. The earlier of these investigators usually studied the brain as a whole, without entering into closer examination of any particular part. The description of all the different external forms under which the selachians brain appears was for the moment the chief thing, although at the same time an endeavor could be observed to homologize as far as possible the various parts with similarly situated areas in higher and lower types, especially in Petromyzon, ganoids and amphibians. A problem deeply interesting the investigators of about 1890 was the question as to whether the fore-brain of the selachians should be considered paired or unpaired. From the embryological investigations it appeared that the cerebrum must be considered as originally an unpaired evagination from the rostral end of the forebrain. In primitive genera such as Chimaera and Hexanchus the telencephalon was distinctly paired, while in more specialized genera as Torpedo external pairedness could not in general be proved.