ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a new method of measuring the "sedation threshold". The discovery of a measurable threshold of sedation may be said, therefore, to have had important implications, both for the practical problem of diagnosis and treatment in psychiatry, as well as for the general theory of neurosis. The sedation threshold was assessed in terms of the effect of sodium amytal on a simple task of attention. The stimulus material consisted of a tape-recording of random digits, relayed to the subject through earphones. According to Hans Eysenck's original analysis of personality extraversion-introversion is the main dimension differentiating hysterics and dysthymics. The discovery of a measurable threshold of sedation may be said, therefore, to have had important implications, both for the practical problem of diagnosis and treatment in psychiatry, as well as for the general theory of neurosis.
