Universität zu Köln

Bode, Stefan ORCID: 0000-0002-0258-7795, Murawski, Carsten ORCID: 0000-0002-1237-9535, Soon, Chun Siong ORCID: 0000-0003-2073-4557, Bode, Philipp, Stahl, Jutta ORCID: 0000-0002-3252-180X and Smith, Philip L. (2014). Demystifying free will: The role of contextual information and evidence accumulation for predictive brain activity. Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev., 47. S. 636 - 646. OXFORD: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. ISSN 1873-7528

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Abstract

Novel multivariate pattern classification analyses have enabled the prediction of decision outcomes from brain activity prior to decision-makers' reported awareness. These findings are often discussed in relation to the philosophical concept of free will. We argue that these studies demonstrate the role of unconscious processes in simple free choices, but they do not inform the philosophical debate. Moreover, these findings are difficult to relate to cognitive decision-making models, due to misleading assumptions about random choices. We review evidence suggesting that sequential-sampling models, which assume accumulation of evidence towards a decision threshold, can also be applied to free decisions. If external evidence is eliminated by the task instructions, decision-makers might use alternative, subtle contextual information as evidence, such as their choice history, that is not consciously monitored and usually concealed by the experimental design. We conclude that the investigation of neural activity patterns associated with free decisions should aim to investigate how decisions are jointly a function of internal and external contexts, rather than to resolve the philosophical free will debate. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Bode, Stefan UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-0258-7795 UNSPECIFIED Murawski, Carsten UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-1237-9535 UNSPECIFIED Soon, Chun Siong UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0003-2073-4557 UNSPECIFIED Bode, Philipp UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Stahl, Jutta UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-3252-180X UNSPECIFIED Smith, Philip L. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-423876
DOI:	10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.10.017
Journal or Publication Title:	Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.
Volume:	47
Page Range:	S. 636 - 646
Date:	2014
Publisher:	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Place of Publication:	OXFORD
ISSN:	1873-7528
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ROSTRAL CINGULATE ZONE; DECISION-MAKING; FREE-CHOICE; CONSCIOUS INTENTION; PREFRONTAL CORTEX; HIDDEN INTENTIONS; PATTERN-ANALYSIS; VOLUNTARY ACTION; PARIETAL CORTEX; TIME Multiple languages Behavioral Sciences; Neurosciences Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/42387