scholarly journals Why the Readiness Potential Does Not Disprove Free Will

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-133
Author(s):  
Even Totland
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Readiness Potential ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Brain

Neuroscientist Benjamin Libet has conducted a series of experiments that reveal the existence of certain neural processes in the brain of human subjects, initiating an action prior to the human subject’s intention to act, thus seemingly threatening our idea of free will. The purpose of this paper is to show how these processes do not disprove any idea of free will one might have as one would, if accepting such a thesis, be committing two distinct mereological fallacies and ultimately, would treat the human subject as inhabiting some of its parts as opposed to being the sum of its parts.

scholarly journals Why the Readiness Potential Does Not Disprove Free Will

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 124-132
Author(s):  
Even Totland ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Readiness Potential ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Brain

Neuroscientist Benjamin Libet has conducted a series of experiments that reveal the existence of certain neural processes in the brain of human subjects, initiating an action prior to the human subject’s intention to act, thus seemingly threatening our idea of free will. The purpose of this paper is to show how these processes do not disprove any idea of free will one might have as one would, if accepting such a thesis, be committing two distinct mereological fallacies and ultimately, would treat the human subject as inhabiting some of its parts as opposed to being the sum of its parts.

Review Lecture: Neural mechanisms of learning: an analysis of imprinting in the domestic chick

1981 ◽  
Vol 213 (1191) ◽  
pp. 101-137 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Chick ◽  
Storage Process ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Sensory Pathways ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Bilateral Destruction ◽  
The Brain

Learning is a complex set of processes involving the acquisition and storage of information. Imprinting in the domestic chick was studied to analyse the neural basis of storage. The recently hatched chick learns the characteristics of a visually conspicuous object by being exposed to it. When a chick is trained in this way, biochemical changes can be detected in the dorsal part of the forebrain. Through a series of experiments it was shown that these changes are unlikely to be non-specific consequences of training, but more probably reflect some aspect of the storage process. By using a radioautographic technique to localize the brain region more precisely, part of the hyperstriatum ventrale was implicated in this process. Bilateral destruction of the region before imprinting prevented acquisition, and bilateral destruction after imprinting impaired retention. After exposure for 140 min to an imprinting stimulus there was an increase in the area of contact between presynaptic and postsynaptic elements in the region. This effect was found on the left side only. Sequential lesions to left and right sides confirmed that there is a hemispheric asymmetry in the role of the region in the storage of information. The area receives input from the visual pathways and possibly from other sensory pathways, and projects to regions that are thought to be involved in the control of locomotor and viscero-endocrine functions. The results afford an opportunity for the further analysis both of storage and of the whole set of neural processes that underlie imprinting in the domestic chick.

The action of “low potency” homœopathic remedies on the movement of guinea-pig macrophages and human leucocytes

1982 ◽  
Vol 71 (02) ◽  
pp. 48-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor A. Moss ◽  
J. Alan Roberts ◽  
Keith Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Guinea Pig ◽  
Human Subject ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Active Agent ◽  
Cell Movement ◽  
Source Material ◽  
Significant Modification ◽  
The Public ◽  
Series Of Experiments

SummaryThe action of five “low potency” homœopathic remedies, as supplied to the public and used clinically, on the distance of movement in a given time of guinea-pig macrophages and human leucocytes was measured. The remedies, Belladonna, Hepar sulphur, Pyrogenium, Silicea and Staphylococcin, were tested in the range 2×10−10 to 10−16 g/ml dilution of the source material, though the actual concentration of any active agent was probably considerably less than these values.In four series of experiments with guinea-pig macrophages the remedies were tested as aqueous or alcoholic tinctures, or absorbed on sugar granules. The results of 533 tests showed statistically significant modification of cell movement in 47 tests (i.e. 95% significant in about 8% of tests). Ten of these differences were significant at the 99% level and three also at the 99.9% level.Fifty tests of the aqueous tinctures on leucocytes from four human subjects showed modification of cell movement in five tests, one test being significant at the 99% level. Significant effects were obtained with two subjects only.The remedies facilitated movement in some experiments and inhibited it in others. The largest effects were obtained with a few sensitive guinea-pigs and one human subject. The magnitude and direction of the effects depended on the batch of animals being tested rather than on the set of remedies used.It is concluded that low potency homœopathic remedies prepared by A. Nelson & Company Ltd. are capable of modifying the movement of human leucocytes and guinea-pig macrophages in vitro.

Muscular work as thermal behavior in humans

1980 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 1020-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Caputa ◽  
M. Cabanac
Keyword(s):  
Extreme Values ◽  
Brain Temperature ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Muscular Activity ◽  
Bicycle Ergometer ◽  
Sweating Rate ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Skin Temperatures ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Head Covering

Human subjects were placed on a bicycle ergometer and left to pedal ad lib. for 43 min to warm themselves and thereby attain thermal comfort at an ambient temperature of 10 degrees C. Esophageal (Tes), tympanic (Tty), forehead, and hand skin temperatures were recorded. In addition, the work of pedaling was noted for each 2-min period. In some experiments sweating rate was also recorded. Two series of experiments were performed, the first with face fanning and the second with thermal insulation of the head. Face fanning resulted in decreased Tty, but in substantially increased Tes, which was 1.5 degrees C higher than Tty after an intense pedaling effort of 46-50 W. In experiments with head covering, a mild increase of both Tes and Tty was observed toward a position halfway between the extreme values obtained during face fanning. Simultaneously, pedaling intensity decreased to 16.7 W and the rate of sweating increased. In general, pedaling work was inversely proportional to intracranial temperature (Tty) and independent of trunk temperature (Tes). Therefore, motivation for muscular activity in humans exposed to cold appears to be goverened chiefly by the brain temperature.

The brain minds whether we believ in free will

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rigoni ◽  
M. Brass ◽  
B. Burle
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
The Brain

Effect of combined citicoline and glutamate antibodies on acute, generalized convusions induced by pentylenetetrazole in mice

2018 ◽  
pp. 24-29
Author(s):  
М.Н. Карпова ◽  
Л.В. Кузнецова ◽  
Н.Ю. Клишина ◽  
Л.А. Ветрилэ
Keyword(s):  
Drug Combination ◽  
Subcutaneous Injection ◽  
Seizure Activity ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Slow Progression ◽  
Experiment Control ◽  
Effective Doses ◽  
Experimental Justification ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Brain

Цель исследования. На 2 моделях острых генерализованных судорог (ОГС), вызванных конвульсантом пентилентетразолом (ПТЗ), изучить эффективность сочетанного применения ноотропа цитиколина - препарата с противосудорожным действием, нейрорегенеративной, нейропротекторной активностью и антител (АТ) к глутамату, обладающих противосудорожной активностью. Методика. Эксперименты выполнены на мышах-самцах линии C57Bl/6 (n = 87) массой 22-28 г. Эффективность сочетанного применения цитиколина и АТ к глутамату изучали на двух моделях ОГС. Выполнено 2 серии экспериментов. В 1-й серии ОГС вызывали внутривенным введением 1% раствора ПТЗ со скоростью 0,01 мл/с. Для изучения эффективности сочетанного применения препаратов определяли минимальное противосудорожное действие цитиколина (Цераксон, «Nicomed Ferrer Internaсional, S.A.») и АТ к глутамату при их внутрибрюшинном введении. С этой целью цитиколин вводили в дозах 500 и 300 мг/кг за 1 ч до введения ПТЗ, АТ к глутамату - в дозах 5 и 2,5 мг/кг за 1 ч 30 мин до введения ПТЗ. АТ к глутамату получали путем гипериммунизации кроликов соответствующим конъюгированным антигеном. Во 2-й серии ОГС вызывали подкожным введением ПТЗ в дозе 85 мг/кг. Для изучения эффективности сочетанного действия изучаемых препаратов последние вводили в минимально действующих дозах, установленных в 1-й серии экспериментов. Контролем во всех сериях опытов служили животные, которым вводили в аналогичных условиях и в том же объеме физиологический раствор. Результаты. Показано, что сочетанное применение цитиколина и АТ к глутамату в минимально действующих дозах (300 и 2,5 мг/кг соответственно) при моделировании ОГС не вызывало повышения судорожной активности мозга и усиления противосудорожных свойств препаратов. Заключение. Cочетанное применение цитиколина и АТ к глутамату в минимально действующих дозах не вызывало повышения судорожной активности мозга, что свидетельствует о безопасности совместного применения препаратов. Проведенное исследование может служить также экспериментальным обоснованием возможности использования сочетанного применения данных препаратов при судорогах с целью замедления прогрессирования нейродегенеративных процессов и благоприятного влияния на когнитивные функции. Aim. To study the effectivity of a combination of citicoline, a nootropic substance with neuroregenerative, neuroprotective, and anticonvulsant actions, and glutamate antibodies (АB) with an anticonvulsant action in two models of acute generalized convulsions (AGC) caused by the convulsant pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Methods. Experiments were conducted on C57Bl/6 mice (n = 87) weighing 22-28 g. Effects of combined citicoline and glutamate АB were studied on two models of AGС. In the first series of experiments, AGС was induced by intravenous infusion of a 1% PTZ solution at 0.01 ml/sec. In the second series, AGС was induced by a subcutaneous injection of PTZ 85 mg/kg. To evaluate efficacy of the drug combination minimum intraperitoneal anticonvulsant doses of citicoline (Tserakson, Nicomed Ferrer Internacional, S.A.) and glutamate АB were determined. To this purpose, citicoline was administered at 500 and 300 mg/kg 1 h prior to PTZ, and glutamate АB was administered at 5 and 2.5 mg/kg 90 min prior to PTZ. Glutamate АB was obtained by hyperimmunization of rabbits with a respective conjugated antigen. In the second series of experiments, AGС was induced by a subcutaneous injection of PTZ 85 mg/kg. To evaluate the effect of the drug combination, the drugs were administered at the minimum effective doses determined in the first series of experiment. Control animals were injected with the same volume of saline in the same experimental conditions. Results. The combination of citicoline and glutamate AB used at minimum effective doses of 300 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively, did not increase the seizure activity in the brain and enhanced anticonvulsant properties of the drugs in two models of AGС. Conclusion. The combination of citicoline and glutamate AT at minimum effective doses did not increase the convulsive activity in the brain, which supported safety of the drug combination. Besides, this study can serve as an experimental justification for using the drug combination in convulsions to favorably influence cognitive functions and slow progression of neurodegenerative processes.

Consciousness, law of nature, and nomological determinism

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoyang Yu
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Important Thing ◽  
Law Of Nature ◽  
The World ◽  
The Law ◽  
The Brain

Nomological determinism does not mean everything is predictable. It just means everything follows the law of nature. And the most important thing Is that the brain and consciousness follow the law of nature. In other words, there is no free will. Without life, brain and consciousness, the world follows law of nature, that is clear. The life and brain are also part of nature, and they follow the law of nature. This is due to scientific findings. There are not enough scientific findings for consciousness yet. But I think that the consciousness is a nature phenomenon, and it also follows the law of nature.

The ”true me”—one or many?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Berent ◽  
Melanie Platt
Keyword(s):  
Free Will ◽  
Optimality Theory ◽  
The Self ◽  
True Self ◽  
Behavioral Test ◽  
Brain Scan ◽  
Moral Behaviors ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Constraint Ranking

Recent results suggest that people hold a notion of the true self, distinct from the self. Here, we seek to further elucidate the “true me”—whether it is good or bad, material or immaterial. Critically, we ask whether the true self is unitary. To address these questions, we invited participants to reason about John—a character who simultaneously exhibits both positive and negative moral behaviors. John’s character was gauged via two tests--a brain scan and a behavioral test, whose results invariably diverged (i.e., one test indicated that John’s moral core is positive and another negative). Participants assessed John’s true self along two questions: (a) Did John commit his acts (positive and negative) freely? and (b) What is John’s essence really? Responses to the two questions diverged. When asked to evaluate John’s moral core explicitly (by reasoning about his free will), people invariably descried John’s true self as good. But when John’s moral core was assessed implicitly (by considering his essence), people sided with the outcomes of the brain test. These results demonstrate that people hold conflicting notions of the true self. We formally support this proposal by presenting a grammar of the true self, couched within Optimality Theory. We show that the constraint ranking necessary to capture explicit and implicit view of the true self are distinct. Our intuitive belief in a true unitary “me” is thus illusory.

scholarly journals Learning Speech Production and Perception through Sensorimotor Interactions

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shihab Shamma ◽  
Prachi Patel ◽  
Shoutik Mukherjee ◽  
Guilhem Marion ◽  
Bahar Khalighinejad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocal Tract ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Motor Task ◽  
Neural Processes ◽  
Mathematical Simulations ◽  
Predictive Role ◽  
Sensorimotor Interactions ◽  
Forward Projection ◽  
Cortical Regions

Abstract Action and Perception are closely linked in many behaviors necessitating a close coordination between sensory and motor neural processes so as to achieve a well-integrated smoothly evolving task performance. To investigate the detailed nature of these sensorimotor interactions, and their role in learning and executing the skilled motor task of speaking, we analyzed ECoG recordings of responses in the high-γ band (70 Hz-150 Hz) in human subjects while they listened to, spoke, or silently articulated speech. We found elaborate spectrotemporally-modulated neural activity projecting in both forward (motor-to-sensory) and inverse directions between the higher-auditory and motor cortical regions engaged during speaking. Furthermore, mathematical simulations demonstrate a key role for the forward projection in learning to control the vocal tract, beyond its commonly-postulated predictive role during execution. These results therefore offer a broader view of the functional role of the ubiquitous forward projection as an important ingredient in learning, rather than just control, of skilled sensorimotor tasks.

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