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'Mechanism in Nerve Centers', 1930

 Item
Reference Code: GBR/3377/JTMacC/5/2

Scope and Contents

This is framed as a rebuttal of Professor Alexander Forbes. Forbes wrote a letter which appeared in 'Nature' for 14th December 1929 refuting the arguments MacCurdy made in criticism of the mechanistic interpretation of reflex functions. MacCurdy here therefore justifies his own position and gives further detail to support his view about 'vicarious functions' and the central nervous system. This hinges on the definition of the term 'automatic'.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930

Bibliography

It is not clear whether this piece was ever published: the archive here does not include a published version, only this typescript. Of course, it may have appeared in the letters page of a journal rather than as a full-length article. Although not specifically dated, the piece cannot have been written earlier than 1930 because it refers to a publication by Lashley which appeared in 'Psychological Review' vol. 37, 1930.

Repository Details

Part of the Department of Psychology Repository

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