The longer of the two adjoining curves of Fig. 6 illustrates the regular course of these numbers with approximate accuracy for such a small number of tests. As Fig. 6 shows, in the cases examined, the number of repetitions necessary for the memorisation of series in which the number of syllables progressively increased, itself increases with extraordinary rapidity with the increase in number of the syllables.
At first the ascent of the curve is very steep, but later on it appears to gradually flatten out. For the mastery of five times
the number of syllables that can be reproduced after but one reading—i.e., after about 3 seconds—over 50 repetitions were necessary, requiring an uninterrupted and concentrated effort for fifteen minutes.
The curve has its natural starting point in the zero point of the co-ordinates. The short initial stretch up to the point, x=7, y=1, can be explained thus: in order to recite by heart series of 6, 5, 4, etc., syllables one reading, of course, is all that is necessary. In my case this reading does not require as much attention as does the 7-syllable one, but can become more and more superficial as the number of syllables decreases.
