Experiencing Ideomotion

[EricM]

I have been wondering about the subjective experience of ideomotion and how it might differ from conscious or willed movement. While this paper doesn't have all the answers it is a start.

Anomalous control: When free-will is not conscious
Patrick Haggard,* Peter Cartledge, Meilyr Dafydd, and David A. Oakley
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, 17 Queen Square, London WC1N 3AR, UK
Received 25 May 2004
Available online 2 July 2004
Abstract
The conscious feeling of exercising free-will is fundamental to our sense of self. However, in some psychopathological conditions actions may be experienced as involuntary or unwilled. We have used suggestion in hypnosis to create the experience of involuntariness (anomalous control) in normal participants. We compared a voluntary finger movement, a passive movement and a voluntary movement suggested by hypnosis to be involuntary. Hypnosis itself had no effect on the subjective experience of
voluntariness associated with willed movements and passive movements or on time estimations of their occurrence. However, subjective time estimates of a hypnotically-suggested, involuntary finger movement were more similar to those for passive movements than for voluntary movements. The experience of anomalous control is qualitatively and quantitatively different from the normal conscious experience of a similar act produced intentionally. The experience of anomalous control may be produced either by pathology, or, in our case, by suggestion.
2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

I wonder if this anamolous control of the involuntary movement used in this experiment is similar in some respects to what one might experience during manually or verbally elicited ideomotion?

Eric

[Barrett Dorko]

Eric,

You're right, this is a start. I don't see much here that could help us explain the dual purpose of ideomotion i.e. expression - often of that which exists beneath our awareness - and reduction in mechanical deformation. The latter purpose of ideomotor activity has not been been well-studied but it is no less real. For painful problems secondary to this origin it is essential for recovery and, according to no less than Oliver Sacks, it is primary when attempting to recover normal function. (See Oliver, Ian and Me).

I ask my classes what it would feel like to hold themselves perfectly still for even a few seconds and they all know that discomfort would rise rapidly. They know too that the freedom to move uniquely and individually is essential for health yet choreograph "pain-relieving" movements for others on a regular basis. They themselves have created rituals of stretching that they use regularly though they know this is helpful, at best, for a few minutes and usually less.

Aside from the conflict between cultural norms and individuality I think we see the consequences of an internal conflict between the ego and the creative self residing mainly in the "lower" centers of the brain. Reconciliation there is literally an act of courage.

Every time I write I enter this conflict, and that is the best reason for doing it.

[Jon Newman]

Authors: Kwan I. Bunn F.

Title: Effects of prehospital spinal immobilization: a systematic review of randomized trials on healthy subjects. [Review]

Source: Prehospital & Disaster Medicine. 20(1):47-53, 2005 Jan-Feb.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of spinal immobilization on healthy participants. METHODS: A systematic review of randomized, controlled trials of spinal immobilization on healthy participants. RESULTS: Seventeen randomized, controlled trials compared different types of immobilization devices, including collars, backboards, splints, and body strapping. For immobilization efficacy, collars, spine boards, vacuum splints, and abdominal/torso strapping provided a significant reduction in spinal movement. Adverse effects of spinal immobilization included a significant increase in respiratory effort, skin ischemia, pain, and discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Data from this review provide the best available evidence to support the well-recognized efficacy and potential adverse effects of spinal immobilization. However, comparisons of different immobilization strategies on trauma victims must be considered in order to establish an evidence base for this practice. [References: 45]
Publication Type Journal Article. Review.