It must be distinctly understood that these "threshold means" are
not displacements, and that the two cannot be compared as if they
were statements of the same facts. These _means_ indicate the centre
of gravity of the "click first" "click last" interval with respect to
the visual stimulus. Changes in this centre of gravity may reasonably
be expected to approximate a variation _inverse_ to that of the
displacements of the auditory stimulus. For example, any change in the
conditions which would tend to increase a _negative_ displacement would
tend also to put the centre of gravity of the "click first" "click
last" interval _after_ the visual stimulus, or, if it were already
after, to increase its time after. So also the _positive_ displacement
and the position of the threshold mean _before_ the visual stimulus may
be considered similar indications. For a click given at the time of the
threshold mean of a given observer, in connection with the same visual
stimulus, would certainly be judged by that observer as simultaneous
with the visual stimulus. If, then, this mean is before the visual
stimulus, the sound will be displaced positively, _i. e._, coördinated
with a visual stimulus coming later. If the mean is after the visual
stimulus, the sound will be displaced negatively, _i. e._, coördinated
with a visual stimulus coming earlier. The position of the mean of the
thresholds indicates a tendency toward the displacement of the auditory
impression in the opposite direction.
In Table III, three out of five observers, A, Sh, and Bo, show a change
from a negative displacement in the series of three to a positive
displacement in the series of twelve. If this were the effect of the
series, the same should show in the series of three as compared with
the single letter. Such a change is manifest in the results of Bo. It
is, however, very slight. The others increase the negative displacement
from the single letter to three letters. In Table IV, of the same three
observers represented, Sh changes the threshold mean from _after_ in
the three-letter series to _before_ in the twelve-letter series, and
A changes from _after_ in one letter to _on_ in three letters. These
changes correspond to changes from negative to positive displacements
for increase of series and introduction of series. G shows the same
change from one letter to three, in both tables. These changes, in
55% of the cases offered for comparison in the two tables, indicate
a _decrease_ of _negative displacement_ and an _introduction_ of
_positive displacement_ as the _effect_ of the _visual series_. The
visual element is made more focal in expectant attention as it is
more isolated, and so the tendency toward negative displacement and
increasing negative displacement as the serial character of the visual
impressions is stripped off. But there are strong counteractive
tendencies, which control the 45% of comparisons not mentioned above,
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