Neuroscience of free will
The neuroscience of free will, a part of neurophilosophy, is the study of topics related to free will using neuroscience and the analysis of how findings from such studies may impact the free will debate.
On several different levels, from neurotransmitters through neuron firing rates to overall activity, the brain seems to "ramp up" before movements. This image depicts the readiness potential (RP), a ramping-up activity measured using EEG. The onset of the RP begins before the onset of a conscious intention or urge to act. Some have argued that this indicates the brain unconsciously commits to a decision before consciousness awareness. Others have argued that this activity is due to random fluctuations in brain activity, which drive arbitrary, purposeless movements.
Typical recording of the Bereitschaftspotential that was discovered by Kornhuber and Deecke in 1965). Benjamin Libet investigated whether this neural activity corresponded to the "felt intention" (or will) to move of experimental subjects.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation uses magnetism to safely stimulate or inhibit parts of the brain.
Free will is the capacity or ability to choose between different possible courses of action.
A biker performing a dirt jump that, according to some interpretations, is the result of free will
A domino's movement is determined completely by laws of physics.
René Descartes
Thomas Hobbes was a classical compatibilist.
