BRAIN SECRETS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1924, Page 3

BRAIN SECRETS.

A WEIRD MACHINE. SYDNEY, June 2d. A delicate apparatus for gauging the emotions lias been imported by the Rev A. R. Osborne, of Melbourne, who is deeply interested in psychological matters, and some remarkable demonstrations of its capacities have been given by him. The emotions aroused hy tli* utterance of a word summoning up a given train of thought are recorded on a graph, and in an address before the Victorian State Schoolteachers Association, Mr Osborne emphasised its value for testing the mentality of school children. A demonstration upon the actress, Miss Dorothy lirunton, and the well-known South Melbourne footballer, -Mr E. Johnson, in Melbourne last week, proved particularly interesting.

Miss lirunton was first to lace the Ol'ilciil of the "emotometer." as the machine is called. 'ln her It‘ll band was strapped two pads moistened with salt water. These pads were connected hy wires to the electrical machine, where a kind o. ''spotlight Hit ted to and Iro across the graph. As the nerve-cells of the skin responded to any emotional impulse from the brain.

these variations were registered on lhe graph on a scale Irom zero to 2f)o points. The stimulus to emotional activity was the pulling of certain words or phrases by Mr Osborne in Ins subject. These provoked ail "associated idea which expressed the emotion. The machine did the rest. The time taken tn answer was also recorded by stopwatch.

Mr Osborne's first word to Miss Ill'll kou wits "Dance.” At cnee the spotlight rushed over the edge of the | graph, and in four seconds came Miss: lirunlon’s expression of her emotion | when she thought of dancing. It was j the word "Tired." ami her emotion on the matter was very strong atul marked. "Hooks”: The machine registered 2(10 points. The same result followed the word "Ink. "Monels, however, again cati-cd the light to move oil' the graph. So did j Miss Hrunton answered "affection. , and added, "I’m very fond of hor-es.' . When Mr Johnson took the chair j Mr Osborne said "Hive." In tinder | two second' came the reply. " 1 j and Hie graph regislere.l 12(1. " “' j sporting spirit." commended Mr , borne. “Mordiallor" .to Mr "j suggested "Holiday." ">»'"> *»«- gested Trophies" lagam the blolo *; point of view). Hot the most o.lcrcst-1 tvis the ati'Wer to the word . "South'” (a reference 1“ Johnson s team. South Melhotirne). "Prenueis snapped out Mr Johnson m two | seconds, and the emotion light jumped ; t () 200 points. No denying Mr John-, son’s strong emotion and hopes Mr the premiership for In* tea m tins sea- j son. To Miss Hrunton "Hirtl su gested "Singing." To Mr Jehnso it brought -fTees.” Mr Osborne pou ts out that althougl. at. attempt may be made to repress one’s feelings when a word brings up a painful or unwelcome train of thought, the very effort to repress the emotion will enlist .. machine to register.