Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain

[bernard]

Nat Neurosci. (javascript:AL_get(this, 'jour', 'Nat Neurosci.');) 2008 May;11(5):543-5. Epub 2008 Apr 13.
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Unconscious determinants of free decisions in the human brain.

Soon CS (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Soon%20CS%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Brass M (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Brass%20M%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Heinze HJ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Heinze%20HJ%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract), Haynes JD (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed&Cmd=Search&Term=%22Haynes%20JD%22%5BAuthor%5D&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstract).

Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Stephanstrasse 1A, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

There has been a long controversy as to whether subjectively 'free' decisions are determined by brain activity ahead of time. We found that the outcome of a decision can be encoded in brain activity of prefrontal and parietal cortex up to 10 s before it enters awareness. This delay presumably reflects the operation of a network of high-level control areas that begin to prepare an upcoming decision long before it enters awareness.

Publication Types:
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't (javascript:AL_get(this, 'ptyp', 'Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov\'t');)
PMID: 18408715 [PubMed - in process]

[Marc]

the outcome of a decision can be encoded in brain activity of prefrontal and parietal cortex up to 10 s before it enters awareness.
Lesser when it's about micro-kiné .... :p

This delay presumably reflects the operation of a network of high-level control areas that begin to prepare an upcoming decision long before it enters awareness.
Control areas? What's about our webmaster ? He's an impulsive man, isn't he?. :angel:

[bernard]

Lesser when it's about micro-kiné .... :p


Control areas? What's about our webmaster ? He's an impulsive man, isn't he?. :angel:

Yes, but now I'm more wise and patient.
And I developed a primal reflex that is triggered by the name. That has nothing to see with consciousness, only with survival.

[Marc]

And I developed a primal reflex that is triggered by the name.
Something as an allergy .... :D

[bernard]

Not at all! It is a pure transformation involved by Evolution.

[Gary]

I imagine that the 10 s delay from brain activity to awareness related to a decision becomes quite useful when one needs to be politically correct. The thought to mouth filter system may work in a similar fashion but with more conscious control. :rolleyes: