Ebook Adolescence

At adolescence, each of the senses undergoes certain char acteristic changes of structure, function, or both. Interests change and with them the organs of apperception, so that aspects and elements different from those hitherto absorbing the complex but already familiar objects Of sense become foci of attention. While it is of course impossible to distinguish clearly between what is due to cerebral or psychic modification and that resulting from changes in the sense organs and their immediate centers, it is probable that the former greatly pre ponderate, although they can not explain all the facts. One of the most important and comprehensive modifications is, that whereas most sense stimuli before this age tend strongly to provoke re?ex reactions, after it these tend to be delayed or better organized, as if there wereia marked increase of associa tive or central functions. Before, the projection system pre dominated, and stimuli, suggestion, and afferent processes gen erally passed more readily over to the efferent or motor tracts; but now we have Increased cerebral irradiations, and there is a marked advance in the development of the long-circuiting func tions of thought, deliberation, and re?ection. This, too, reacts upon sense and makes Observation better. The deliverances of each sense also now begin to have a more independent value Of their own. Sensations are more objectified and their pleasure and their pain effects are more keenly felt. There is a new sense esthetic or enjoyment of the sensation itself for its own sake. The coneesthesias, or associations of senses on the basis Of their organic feelings and tone effects, are now increased.