Publication details

Brain preparation before a voluntary action: Evidence against unconscious movement initiation

Authors:

Judy Trevena, Jeff Miller

Benjamin Libet has argued that electrophysiological signs of cortical movement preparation are present before people report having made a conscious decision to move, and that these signs constitute evidence that voluntary movements are initiated unconsciously. This controversial conclusion depends critically on the assumption that the electrophysiological signs recorded by Libet, Gleason, Wright, and Pearl (1983) are associated only with preparation for movement. We tested that assumption by comparing the electrophysiological signs before a decision to move with signs present before a decision not to move. There was no evidence of stronger electrophysiological signs before a decision to move than before a decision not to move, so these signs clearly are not specific to movement preparation. We conclude that Libet's results do not provide evidence that voluntary movements are initiated unconsciously.
Consciousness and cognition. 01/10/2009;
ISSN: 1090-2376
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2009.08.006
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Keywords

Before

69%

Decision

71%

Electrophysiological

74%

Libet

98%

Movement

86%

Preparation

57%

Signs

100%
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