Reciprocal Induction

Recently, I am self-studying Industrial Psychology.  I come across with a term – Reciprocal Induction.

According to Ivan Petrovich,

Reciprocal Induction: Having formed conditioned inhibition by differentia

tion we can see that such an inhibition is active rather than indifferent, because a positive stimulus used immediately after the inhibitory is without effect, showing the existence of an inhibitory state.  This may be a constant or, in the case of a delayed reflex, temporary, saving the cortex from useless work.  The inhibition may spread (irritation) or become concentrated, or evoke the opposite process – excitation.

Inhibition: A protective mechanism.  When the conditioned stimuli became too strong that the result produced would exceed the capacity of the given nervous system… excitation became replaced by inhibition, thus protecting the weak cortical cells from excessive excitation.

The other citation is as follows (which is easier to understand):

Concentration vs. Differentiation.  The interrelations between these two processes governed by reciprocal induction, i.e. if a cortical center is  in a state of excitation, adjacent and even remote centres are inhibited by negative induction, and vice versa.  Induction can also occur in one and the same nervous centre; that is, after strong excitation, inhibition will set in, and conversely.  …. As a result of which the whole cortex becomes reduced to a huge mosaic of points of excitation and inhibition closely intermingled.  This mosaic is formed and reinforced partly by the reciprocal crowding in of the opposed processes of excitation and of inhibition, directly evoked by the corresponding external agents; partly, however, by internal relations, in particular by reciprocal induction, which one process leads to the strengthening of the other.

In short, when we feel tired of thinking an issue without being resolved, excessive excitation in a certain cortical center, inhibition sets in.  We need to be distracted by taking rest or doing other subject, it will help release the inhibition of the other cortical center.