We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
The readiness potential and the soul: what happens when you resect their seat in the brain?
- Authors
Sjöberg, Rickard L
- Abstract
The article discusses the historical debate between dualism and monism in the field of neuroscience. It highlights the work of John Eccles, who argued for dualism based on neurophysiological experiments showing that voluntary movements can be initiated independently of the brain. However, Benjamin Libet's experiments challenged this theory by demonstrating that brain activity precedes conscious decision-making. The article also discusses the author's own experiences with neurosurgical resections of the supplementary motor area (SMA), which further support the idea that the brain, rather than the soul, is responsible for decision-making and voluntary movement. The author concludes that the Libet experiment has become a symbolic representation of the triumph of monism over dualism in neuroscience.
- Subjects
MOTOR cortex; PREPAREDNESS; SOUL; FREE will &; determinism
- Publication
Brain: A Journal of Neurology, 2024, Vol 147, Issue 7, p2267
- ISSN
0006-8950
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1093/brain/awae180