The dependence on Q(2) (the negative square of the 4-momentum of the exchan
ged virtual photon) of the generalised Gerasimov-Drell-Hearn integral for t
he proton has been measured in the range 1.2 GeV2 < Q(2) < 12 GeV2 by scatt
ering longitudinally polarised positrons on a longitudinally polarised hydr
ogen gas target. The contributions of the nucleon-resonance and deep inelas
tic regions to this integral have been evaluated separately. The latter has
been found to dominate for Q(2) > 3 GeV2, while both contributions are imp
ortant at low Q(2). The total integral shows no significant deviation from
a 1/Q(2) behaviour in the measured Q(2) range, and thus no sign of large ef
fects due to either nucleon-resonance excitations or nonleading twist. (C)
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