Title |
Spontaneous EEG fluctuations determine the readiness potential: is preconscious brain activation a preparation process to move?
|
---|---|
Published in |
Experimental Brain Research, October 2013
|
DOI | 10.1007/s00221-013-3713-z |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Han-Gue Jo, Thilo Hinterberger, Marc Wittmann, Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt, Stefan Schmidt |
Abstract |
It has been repeatedly shown that specific brain activity related to planning movement develops before the conscious intention to act. This empirical finding strongly challenges the notion of free will. Here, we demonstrate that in the Libet experiment, spontaneous fluctuations of the slow electro-cortical potentials (SCPs) account for a significant fraction of the readiness potential (RP). The individual potential shifts preceding self-initiated movements were classified as showing a negative or positive shift. The negative and positive potential shifts were analyzed in a self-initiated movement condition and in a no-movement condition. Comparing the potential shifts between both conditions, we observed no differences in the early part of the potential. This reveals that the apparently negative RP emerges through an unequal ratio of negative and positive potential shifts. These results suggest that ongoing negative shifts of the SCPs facilitate self-initiated movement but are not related to processes underlying preparation or decision to act. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom | 2 | 67% |
United States | 1 | 33% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Members of the public | 2 | 67% |
Scientists | 1 | 33% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
United States | 2 | 1% |
Germany | 1 | <1% |
Switzerland | 1 | <1% |
Austria | 1 | <1% |
Chile | 1 | <1% |
Japan | 1 | <1% |
United Kingdom | 1 | <1% |
Unknown | 126 | 94% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Student > Ph. D. Student | 31 | 23% |
Researcher | 22 | 16% |
Student > Master | 21 | 16% |
Student > Bachelor | 19 | 14% |
Student > Doctoral Student | 6 | 4% |
Other | 19 | 14% |
Unknown | 16 | 12% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
---|---|---|
Psychology | 44 | 33% |
Neuroscience | 26 | 19% |
Medicine and Dentistry | 11 | 8% |
Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 9 | 7% |
Linguistics | 5 | 4% |
Other | 17 | 13% |
Unknown | 22 | 16% |