Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The senses and the intellect / by Alexander Bain. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![spontaneous energy that opened it at the waking moment, for that force does not necessarily cease when the other force, the stimulus of light, commences. We are at liberty to suppose that the nourished condition of the nerve centres, consequent on the night’s repose, is the cause of that burst of spontaneous exertion that marks the moment of awakening. The antecedent of the activity in this case is, therefore, more physical than mental; and this must he the case with spontaneous energy in general. When linked with sensation and other mental conditions, the character of the activity is modified so as to render the spontaneity much less discernible. (5.) The next proof is derived from the early movements of infancy. These I look upon as in great part due to the spontaneous action of the centres. The mobility displayed in the first stage of infant existence is known to be very great; and it continues to be shown in an exuberant degree all through childhood and early youth. This mobility can be attributed only to one of three causes. It may arise from the stimulus of sensation, that is, from the sights, sounds, contacts, temperature, &c., of outward things ; in which case we should have a reflected or stimulated activity. It may, in the second place, be owing to feelings generated within the body, or states of consciousness growing out of the brain and the bodily processes generally, as when internal pains give rise to paroxysms, or high health to the lively movements of mere animal spirits, The effect may, lastly, be due to the spon- taneous discharge of central vigour over all the active organs of the body,—^limbs, trunk, features, voice, &c. The two first-named influences, external sensation and in- ward emotion, are undoubted causes of active gesticulation and movement. But the question is. Do they explain the whole activity of early infancy and childhood ? I think not, and on evidence such as the following. We can easily observe when any one is under the influence of vivid sensation ; we can tell whether a child is affected by sights or sounds, or tastes, by seeing whether the attention is actually engaged u]:on such](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2491762x_0112.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
