First-person approaches in neuroscience of consciousness: brain dynamics correlate with the intention to act.
Han-Gue Jo, Marc Wittmann, Tilmann Lhündrup Borghardt, Thilo Hinterberger, Stefan Schmidt
Consciousness and cognition May 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2014.03.004 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractA neurophenomenological study with a single expert meditator shows that a larger readiness potential (RP) is linked to more frequent self-initiated movements during negative deflections of slow cortical potentials (SCP). These negative deflections occur alongside an inner impulse reported by the meditator, which may lead to a voluntary act. This proof-of-principle demonstrates that combining first-person introspective data with neural signal analysis can advance understanding of the neural basis of voluntary acts, challenging interpretations of the classic Libet experiment.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Proof-of-principle neurophenomenological study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 1 |
| Population | Expert meditator |
| Keywords | First-person data Intention to act Libet experiment Neurophenomenology Readiness potential |
| Citations | 43 |
| Key finding | A larger readiness potential is attributable to more frequent self-initiated movements during negative deflections of slow cortical potentials, which occur in parallel with an inner impulse reported by an expert meditator. |
Abstract
The belief in free will has been frequently challenged since Benjamin Libet published his famous experiment in 1983. Although Libet's experiment is highly dependent upon subjective reports, no study has been conducted that focused on a first-person or introspective perspective of the task. We took a neurophenomenological approach in an N=1 study providing reliable and valid measures of the first-person perspective in conjunction with brain dynamics. We found that a larger readiness potential (RP) is attributable to more frequent occurrences of self-initiated movements during negative deflections of the slow cortical potentials (SCP). These negative deflections occur in parallel with an inner impulse reported by an expert meditator which may in turn lead to a voluntary act. We demonstrate in this proof-of-principle approach that the first-person perspective obtained by an expert meditator in conjunction with neural signal analysis can contribute to our understanding of the neural underpinnings of voluntary acts.