Psychology 3325 Lecture Notes - Cognitive Psychology, Lateralized Readiness Potential, Bereitschaftspotential
Document Summary
Evaluating scientific issues: does conscious thought control behaviour. 2 crayons horizontal looks shorter ( top hat illusion - because it is often demonstrated using judgments about crown vs brim of hat) Grasping actions was not affected by variation in length. Perceptual awareness of objects may be based on different visual system than one we use for actions. Libet asked people to make hand motion while watching rapidly moving clock hand and were to report where clock hand was at time they became aware of an intention to move. Reports indicated that they experienced awareness of intention 3/10 of a second before motion. Also measured readiness potential - electrical brain activity of motor cortex prior to movement. Occured about 7/10 of a second before motion. Haggard and eimer reasoned that if readiness potential was cause of movement then it should show covariation in time with awareness.
