Abstract
People have the perception that prior to making a voluntary movement, there is an intention to move. This subjective impression has been measured objectively using Libet’s clock and is on average about 300 ms prior to EMG onset. The EEG shows activity prior to movement, and by the voltage measurement, there is a rising negativity called the Bereitschaftspotential beginning about 1.5 s prior to EMG onset. This indicates that the brain mechanisms for generating a voluntary movement begin prior to the subjective intention, that is, unconsciously. If it were possible to detect relevant EEG signals with single events in real time, then it would be possible to identify that movement is being prepared prior to the subjective experience. Work in our laboratory has been making progress in accomplishing this aim. Such a signal could also be used to drive a brain-computer interface.
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Hallett, M., Bai, O. (2007). Predicting Motor Intention. In: Wu, J.L., Ito, K., Tobimatsu, S., Nishida, T., Fukuyama, H. (eds) Complex Medical Engineering. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-30962-8_38
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-30962-8_38
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
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