Neurology of volition

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Volition, the sense of willing and agency, is crucial for perceived control over bodily movements.
• Deficits in volition manifest in neurological disorders, affecting the experience of voluntary action.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the neurological underpinnings of volition and its components.
• To investigate how disruptions in willing and agency impact the sense of control.
• To inform traditional models of volition perception in the brain.

Main Methods:

• Review of neurological disorders affecting volition (e.g., psychogenic movement disorders, anosognosia, early chorea).
• Discussion of volition as a multi-leveled process involving feedforward and feedback information flow.
• Analysis of the role of prior expectations and internal/external cues in volition.

Main Results:

• Neurological conditions can present with disordered volition, including movements lacking a sense of willing or agency.
• Conversely, individuals may claim volition for involuntary movements or when no movement occurs.
• These patient populations provide critical insights into the generation of volition percepts.

Conclusions:

• Volition is a complex, multi-layered process influenced by internal states and external stimuli.
• Understanding disorders of volition enhances our knowledge of normal volitional processes and brain function.
• Further study of these conditions is essential for refining models of how the brain generates the sense of voluntary action.