Volition Flashcards
What are the two broad positions in terms of determinism?
- Metaphysical libertarianism - determinism is false and hence free will exists
- Hard determinism - determinism is true and hence free will does not exist
What is an incompatibilist?
Believe causal determinism is crucial factor is free will
If conscious choice is determined by something other than itself you are not free
What is a compatibilist?
Deny determinism is relevant and maintain that alternative constraints are key
Briefly discuss Libet et al (1983) study on unconscious initiation of voluntary acts
Pts watch dot rotating on clock face, at time of their choosing spontaneously press a button, report where dot was when they first ‘felt the urge to move’
Reported will to act around 200ms before action, readiness potential began 350ms before the reported ‘will’ to move
What was the key finding of Soon et al (2008) study on unconscious determinants of free decisions
Pattern classification algorithm identified areas of prefrontal cortex predicting which hand 7 seconds before decision
What did Fried et al (1991) find in relation to the urge to move?
When stimulation applied to prefrontal areas patients report experiencing the urge to move without movement being made
Demonstrates the urge can exist independently of the action
How do voluntary and stimulus driven action differ?
Voluntary - loop through basal ganglia that integrates a range of cortical signals to drive appropriate actions
Stimulus driven - info from sensory cortices relayed to intermediate-level representations in the parietal cortex
What is anarchic hand syndrome?
Condition where the person reports that one of their hands has a will of its own
Most commonly caused by lesions entered on the SMA on the contralateral side to the anarchic hand (impairs voluntary circuit)
Patients with damage to SMA often what behaviour?
Utilisation
