Communication and coordination
Mental Impulse
Stephenson’s term for a specific message to a tissue cell.
The big idea
He describes an impulse as specific to a cell, an occasion, and a present need. “Mental” here belongs to his philosophical vocabulary; it does not simply mean a conscious thought. His own discussion also acknowledges uncertainty about what these impulses are.
An everyday illustration
A message saying “bring this item here now” is more specific than a general announcement. That difference helps illustrate the intended specificity.
An original illustration to help explain the idea, not a quotation or evidence of a biological mechanism.
In the author’s words
“A special message to a tissue cell for the present instant.”
1927 edition · PDF page 61
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“It is not fully understood what mental impulses are.”
1927 edition · PDF page 61
Explore this book
Short excerpts from the indexed edition; line breaks are normalized. PDF page numbers refer to the source file, and may differ from printed page numbers.
Read it in context
The source both defines the term and acknowledges its limits. Do not silently substitute the modern term “action potential” as though the two accounts were established as equivalent.
Keep the question going
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How does the Green Books discussion of mental impulse help a new reader understand chiropractic philosophy? Explain simply, cite the relevant passages, and distinguish historical philosophy from current clinical evidence.
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