Motor Intention/Intentionality and Associationism - A conceptual review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Philosophy of Mind
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Motor intention (MI) research spans objective physical aspects and subjective intentionality.
• A dualistic gap exists between objective and subjective approaches to MI.
• Current research often emphasizes one aspect over the other, hindering a unified understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review diverse approaches to the motor intention (MI) construct.
• To introduce a broadened conception of associationism in MI research.
• To identify methodological limitations in current MI literature.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of 143 articles on motor intention (MI).
• Application of a broadened conception of associationism to categorize studies.
• Development of a continuum to assess the level of associationism (transcendent vs. substantial).

Main Results:

• 123 out of 143 articles met the criteria for associationism, often implicitly.
• A significant lack of methodology was identified across studies.
• Few articles successfully bridged the gap between motor and intentional aspects.

Conclusions:

• Associationism is prevalent in MI research, often due to methodological shortcomings.
• Future MI research requires a reintroduction of methodological debates.
• Clarifying the conceptual character of MI is crucial for advancing the field.