Voluntary Action

Question 1

Which area of the frontal cortex does not receive parietal input and is involved in voluntary action?

Answer 1

Medial frontal cortex

Question 2

Which areas are included in the medial frontal cortex?

Answer 2

M1
Premotor cortex
SMA

Question 3

When does the readiness potential start?

Answer 3

~1s before movement

Question 4

When did the W judgement occur in Libet’s experiment?

Answer 4

~206ms before movement

Question 5

What is Wegner’s theory of volition?

Answer 5

Retrospective confabulation

Feeling of conscious intention inserted back into stream of consciousness

Question 6

What is the evidence against Wegner’s theory?

Answer 6

Stimulate electrodes in SMA - at low current felt urge to move specific body region - at high current movement occurred

Question 7

What is Schurger’s theory of the readiness potential?

Answer 7

Artefact - due to averaging of stochastic neuronal noise - not build-up to action
Upper threshold to fluctuations - action occurs when reached - stochastic activity determines action - no voluntary component