By Neuroscience News
Free will: an age-old debate that questions whether our decisions are truly our own or simply a manifestation of unconscious brain activity.
In the 1970-1980s, neuroscientist Benjamin Libet conducted groundbreaking experiments, indicating that brain signals preempt our conscious decision to act.
Libet's findings suggested that our actions may be the result of an unconscious physiological process rather than a conscious choice, a notion that sparked intense debate among scientists.
However, new research from the HSE Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience is challenging this paradigm, suggesting that our understanding of decision-making might need a fresh perspective.
Upon replicating Libet's experiments, HSE researchers discovered that the experimental procedures could influence the subjects' awareness of their intention to act, leading to possible misconceptions.
The team found no direct link between brain activity preceding an action and the intention to perform that action, contradicting Libet's conclusions.
As per the HSE researchers, the discussion of free will and decision-making needs a renewed approach, casting aside the traditional Libet paradigm.
In conclusion, the quest to unravel the intricacies of free will continues, reminding us that the human mind remains one of the greatest mysteries to decipher.