Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-26

lions of the brain In man. and will aid
in solving many problems the medical
world has long been studying. The prin-
cipal result Of the experiments Is that
the cortical motor areas-that part Of the
brain which controls action-in the brain
of man are similar to those in apes.
This has been q problem the medical
world has been trying to solve for many
years.
The experiments were conducted under
the direction Of DR.. g. I. Franz. scientific
director at the hospital, who says that
way has been found to determine the
exact location Of the membranes, mus
cles and cells that control the various
actions OF man. The experiments with
monkeys have not proceeded far enough
as yet to cover more than a tiny part Of
the vast undiscovered area Of the brain
of man, but the results obtained are
definite and Justify the conclusion that
mails will solve the problems that are
vexing the medical world today in regard
to the important functions of the brain
connecting the seat OF mans mental
processes with his body.
~.
II q claimed that the experiments at
St Elizabeth have disclosed such impor
tant results that they will be resumed at
once and pushed with the utmost vigor.
The Carnegie Institution. which appro-
priated the money for the inception of
the experiments will continue its sup
port for further research. The results
Of the monkey experiments make 1t plain
that the trail of knowledge has be-H
blazed, and great discoveries are expect
ed in further research which will allow
the successful handling Of many forms
Of dementia or insanity.
Tho trephining. Of the skulls of mon
keys Is done under an anesthetic,'' DR..
Franz explained, "and 1t has been dem
onstrated that the operation is not espe-
cially inconvenient to them. The hand
ling OF the brain itself-even that Of
humans-does not cause pain"
The brain results thus far were pro-
duced by teaching certain tricks and
habits to monkeys. and then removing
that portion Of the brain in which the
motory incentive OF these movements is
supposed to lie.
Through experiments of this kind on
nine monkeys" said DR.. Franz, we have
been able to establish definite indica-
association areas of the brain are con-
cerned In the formation of simple sensi-
motor habits. For instance, two monkeys
who were taught to approach a box con-
tanning food and unlatch an intricate
door to obtain 1t both lost their habits
after being relieved OF certain portions
Of the frontal lobes of the brain. In
previous experiments with cats ii was
discovered that certain habits were re-
peatedly lost with the removal of GER
tain portions Of the frontals. Upon each
removal II was possible to reteach the
habit"
i
In the case Of three monkeys, a rhesus
and two ringtails. which were taught the
habit Of opening the food box and per-
forming certain hurdle jumps. there was
Q loss OF censory motor associations upon
theremoval Of certain portions Of the 'front.'
Il region. although with the rhesus monkey
It was impossible to find any difference
in behavior The ringtails however lost
Ill Of their habits with the loss of GER
tain brain portions, and were slower in
their movements. We were able to de-
termine definitely that the changes, such
- they were. were not due to the shock