The selection of wanted from unwanted messages requires discriminatory mechanisms of as great a complexity as those in normal perception, as is indicated by behavioral evidence. The results of neurophysiology experiments on selective attention are compatible with this supposition. This presents a difficulty for Filter theory. Another mechanism is proposed, which assumes the existence of a shifting reference standard, which takes up the level of the most important arriving signal. The way such importance is determined in the system is further described. Neurophysiological evidence relative to this postulation is discussed.

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Deutsch's behavior theory is applied to intracranial self-stimulation. This assumes that both motivational and reinforcement pathways are electrically stimulated. Satiation does not occur because each stimulus excited the motivational pathways anew, and "extinction" is fast because in the absence of further stimulation the motivational effect decays rapidly. 3 groups of experiments supporting the theory are reported: (a) the tendency to perform such habits is a simple function of time since the last brain stimulus, (b) habits learned for intracranial stimulation can be evoked by normal motivation, (c) the motivational and reinforcement effects are differentially electrically excitable and so due to different physical systems.

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