Scientists CNRS Cognitive Neuroscience Centre in Bron, France report ground breaking news. The team’s work points to two brain areas involved in the decision to move a limb and then execute the action.
Free will, or at least the place where we decide to act, is sited in a part of the brain called the parietal cortex, new research suggests. It’s also related to
When a neurosurgeon electrically jolted this region in patients undergoing surgery, they felt a desire to, say, wiggle their finger, roll their tongue or move a limb. Stronger electrical pulses convinced patients they had actually performed these movements, although their bodies remained motionless.
The team also discovered that stimulating another brain area – the premotor cortex – provoked involuntary, unconscious movements in the same patients.
“That’s extremely interesting, because up to now it has been very difficult for neuroscientists to deal with the idea of intentions or wishes or will,” Patrick Haggard said.
Until these discoveries he continued, “it has been very difficult for neuroscientists to deal with the idea of intentions or wishes or will.”
Calloway, E. Possible site of free will found in brain, New Scientist, May 7, 2009.
