Most of the experiments were performed with iambic tetrameter.  The subject was told to note the lags in the verse:  these were introduced either in both parts of the verse or at its close only.  At least three verses were given, and records were kept of the false judgments.  When lags of identical duration were introduced between the first and second and between the third and fourth feet, it was found that nearly always the lag would not be detected in the earlier part of the verse but would be detected in the later part.  Out of eighty-two cases, there were but six in which the same lag was recognized in the first as well as in the last position.  In two of these cases the subject’s attention had been called to the first part of the verse; and in the four other cases the lag was still found more marked at the close than at the beginning.

There were no cases in which a lag detected in the earlier part of the verse was not also detected in the later part.  False judgments, when they occurred, were made as to a lag in the earlier part of the verse.  One subject falsely located a lag in the first of the verse four times.  Judgments as to the earlier part of the verse were uncertain and frequently changed.

The maximum lag possible without breaking the unity of the verse was determined for the earlier and later parts of the verse.  The verse unity was tested by adding enough feet to make a full verse, after the break, and asking the subject to mark the close of the verse.  In every case this irregularity was introduced into the second verse, and the first verse was normal, e.g. (pentameter),

I. 5 (34). 
II. 34 lag 34 34 34 34 34.

If the lag does not break the verse, the subject should hear the close of the verse at the end of the fifth foot in II.  If the verse is broken he should ignore the first foot and make a new verse, ending with the sixth foot.

J.     Iamb. tet.      1st pause of verse, max. pos. lag     9
3d                                    7
L.                     1st                                   9
3d                                    7
R.                     1st                                  11
3d                                    9
G.                     1st                                   9
3d                                    7
Mi.                    1st                                  10
3d                                    8
B.                     1st                                   7
H.                     1st                                  10
3d                                    6

Later, in the attempt to determine natural divisions, or nodes in the verse, the following were determined: