Error monitoring when no errors are possible: Arbitrary free-choice decisions invoke error monitoring processes

Ariel Furstenberg*, Haim Sompolinsky, Leon Y. Deouell

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Some decisions make a difference, but most are arbitrary and inconsequential, like which of several identical new pairs of socks should I wear? Healthy people swiftly make such decisions even with no rational reasons to rely on. In fact, arbitrary decisions have been suggested as demonstrating “free will”. However, several clinical populations and some healthy individuals have significant difficulties in making such arbitrary decisions. Here, we investigate the mechanisms involved in arbitrary picking decisions. We show that these decisions, arguably based on a whim, are subject to similar control mechanisms as reasoned decisions. Specifically, error-related negativity (ERN) brain response is elicited in the EEG following change of intention, without an external definition of error, and motor activity in the non-responding hand resembles actual errors both by its muscle EMG temporal dynamics and by the lateralized readiness potential (LRP) pattern. This provides new directions in understanding decision-making and its deficits.

Original languageEnglish
Article number106373
JournaliScience
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Apr 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Authors

Keywords

  • Clinical neuroscience
  • Cognitive neuroscience

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Error monitoring when no errors are possible: Arbitrary free-choice decisions invoke error monitoring processes'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this