LECTURES ON THE SPECIFIC ENERGIES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM - Fourth Edition - Enlarged

Oct 13, 2026

An early 20th-century scholarly work by Prof. Ewald Hering presents lectures on how “specific energies” relate to the functioning of the nervous system and to memory as a general process. The publishers’ preface emphasizes Hering’s investigations into specific color-sensations and physiological processes, citing their broader implications for consciousness and protoplasmic changes. The edition is enlarged and includes related translated expositions, with a structured contents listing lectures and an index.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time2 h 22 min

AccessFree to download

Publishers’ Preface

Contents

Lecture I: Memory as a General Function

Lecture II: The Specific Energies of the Nervous System

Lecture III: The Theory of Nerve-Activity

Index

32775903916350 MEMORYQP398H421913 UNIVERSITYOF VICTORIALIBRARY MEMORY # LECTURES ON THE SPECIFIC ENERGIESOF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM PROF.EWALD HERING UNIVERSITY OF LEIPZIG FOURTH EDITION,ENLARGED 1913 THE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANYCHICAGOLONDON | UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
LIBRARY
Victoria,B.C. | | --- | COPYRIGHT BYTHE OPEN COURT PUBLISHING COMPANY 1913 # PUBLISHERS’PREFACE DR.EwALD HERING,professor of psychology at the Uni-versity of Leipsic,is not a voluminous writer,but he has doneconsiderable work in investigating the nature of specific color-sensations and the processes of life.The results of hisstudies have largely been accepted by his colleagues and hislittle essay“On Memory”which contains a popular exposi-tion of this fundamental problem has become classical.Con-cerning its significance for physiology,Prof Michael Fosterof the University of Cambridge says in the EncyclopediaBritannica,Vol.XIX,page 22: "If the ingenious speculations of Hering,that specific color-sensations are due to the relation of assimilation(anabolism)to dissimilation(katabolism)of protoplasmic visual sub-stances in the retina or in the brain,should finally pass fromthe condition of speculation to that of demonstrated truth,we should be brought face to face with the fact that the mereact of building up or the mere act of breaking down affectsthe condition of protoplasm in other ways than the one whichwe have hitherto considered,viz.,that the building up pro-vides energy to be set free and the breaking down lets theenergy forth.In Hering's conception the mere condition ofthe protoplasm,whether it is largely built up or largely brokendown,produces effects which result in a particular state ofconsciousness.Now,whatever views we may take of con-sciousness,we must suppose that an affection of consciousnessis dependent on a change in some material.But in the caseof color-sensations that material cannot be the visual sub-stance itself,but some other substance.That is to say,accord-ing to Hering's views,the mere condition of the visual sub-stance as distinct from a change in that condition determinesthe changes in the other substance which is the basis of con-sciousness.So that,if Hering's conception be a true one (and the arguments in favor of it,if not wholly conclusive areat least serious),we are led to entertain the idea that,inaddition to the rough propagation of explosive decompositions,there are continually passing from protoplasm to protoplasmdelicate touches compared with which the nervous impulseswhich with such difficulty the galvanometer makes known tous are gross and coarse shocks.And it is at least possible,if not probable(indeed present investigations seem rapidlytending in this direction)that an extension of Hering's view,with such modifications as future inquiry may render neces-sary,to other processes than visual sensations,more especiallyto the inner working of the central nervous system,may notonly carry us a long way on towards understanding inhibitionand spontaneous activity but may lay the foundation of anew molecular physiology.This however is speculative anddangerous ground,but it seemed desirable to touch uponit since it illustrates a possible or probable new departure.What we have said of it and of the more manageable mole-cular problems of physiology will perhaps show that,vast andintricate as is the maze before the physiologist of to-day,hehas in his hand a clue which promises,at least,to lead himfar on through it.” Two other popular expositions of highly important problemsin physiology have been translated for the Open Court Pub-lishing Company and are included in this edition,sincetheir extraordinary significance renders it desirable thatthey be made accessible to the English reading public. PAUL CARUS. Chicago,September,1913. CONTENTS LECTURE IPageMEMORY AS A GENERAL FUNCTION - 1 LECTURE II THE SPECIFIC ENERGIES OF THENERVOUS SYSTEM-25 LECTURE III THE THEORY OF NERVE-ACT

FAQs

Who is credited as the author of these lectures?

The work is attributed to Dr. Ewald Hering, professor of psychology at the University of Leipsic.

What key topics are highlighted in the publishers’ preface?

The preface focuses on Hering’s studies of specific color-sensations, their physiological significance, and their connection to consciousness and protoplasmic processes.

What lectures are listed in the table of contents?

The contents list Lecture I on “Memory as a General Function,” Lecture II on “The Specific Energies of the Nervous System,” and Lecture III on “The Theory of Nerve-Activity,” followed by an index.

Oct 13, 2026

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