The candidate has during the last 15 years carried out a very fine series of investigations on the basic physiology of the nervous system, which largely fall into three categories. (i) A study of reflexes which has been distinguished by its ingenuity and accuracy; (ii) A study of pathways in the spinal cord, both ascending and descending; (iii) Studies in the plasticity of responses of the spinal cord. These include learning phenomena in reflexes and also the reactions of nerve cells to operative section of their axc In addition to his personal research the candidate developed a very fine research school in the University of Otago. His work is based on a deep and wide understanding of neurophysiology.