In auditory rhythm it is necessary that there be recurrence of more
than two elements; they must come at a certain rate and within a
certain temporal space to seem connected with each other, and they may
be subjectively grouped in different ways. The apperception of both
kinds of repetition had so many analogies as to suggest that some of
the factors in both experiences were identical.
To focus the problem I took a definite thesis in regard to it. Our
apperception of repeated space forms is due to the rhythm of our own
motor adjustments which are excited in face of repetition, harmoniously
if they accord with certain rhythmic laws in us, inharmoniously if they
do not. It was then necessary to find what facts would support such a
thesis, to see if in reality such facts could be marshalled, and if the
explanation and support they offered was conclusive enough to make it
needless to look farther.
It would seem, if our pleasure in repetition depended on temporal
motor responses in us, that if the amount of time normally taken to
traverse a repeated series were shortened, or if the eyes were fixed
and not allowed to move over the field at all, our enjoyment would
cease altogether, or at least be seriously diminished. If we found it
impossible to enjoy the series except when seen for a certain time,
long enough for the eyes to go over it in the rhythm peculiar to each
subject, we should then conclude that our enjoyment did depend, to some
extent, on such temporal rhythm.
I experimented on this question with nine subjects, and the results
brought out different ways of apperceiving repetition, which divided
the observers into two rather well-marked types.
The apparatus was of the simplest, consisting of white silk strings
hung on a wire against a black background across one side of the room.
The strings were attached to the wire by little hooks, which enabled
one to change their position easily, while a cloth hid the weights on
the ends of the strings, so that nothing but the vertical white lines
were visible.
Fifty strings (50 mm. apart) were hung before the subjects, and they
were asked to survey the field and give a signal as soon as the
experience became pleasant. Then having found the average length of
time for each subject to enjoy these simple repetitions, a shorter
period was given when they were to shut their eyes at a given signal,
and see if in that shortened time they were still able to enjoy the
series. Next they fixated the eyes and kept the whole body rigid, to
see if pleasure was still possible when all outward motor response was
checked, so far as possible.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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