vibratiuncle
Pronunciation
  • (British) enPR: vībrāshĭ.ŭngʹkl, IPA: /vaɪbɹeɪʃɪˈʌŋkl/
Noun

vibratiuncle (plural vibratiuncles)

  1. (now, chiefly, historical) A minuscule or slight vibration; specifically, a vibration in brain tissue caused by the comparatively greater vibrations of the particles of the medullary substance of the nerves (formerly hypothesised to convey external impressions to the mind). [from 18th c.]
    • 1749, David Hartley (philosopher), Observations on Man, I.i:
      Diminutive Vibrations, which may also be called Vibratiuncles and Miniatures.
    • 2004, Robert E Schofield, The Enlightened Joseph Priestley, Pennsylvania State University 2004, p. 57:
      Yet long after references to associationism all but ceased, neurophysiologists continue to explore variations of the “traces” or “vibratiuncles” that sensations might leave in the substance of the brain.



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