Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

17.2K
A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
17.2K
Functions of the Nervous System01:18

Functions of the Nervous System

6.5K
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating and regulating the body's functions. It functions through three main processes: sensory, integrative, and motor processes. Sensory function involves the detection and transmission of information about internal and external stimuli from sensory receptors to the CNS. The CNS processes this information through an integrative function, where it interprets and makes decisions based on the incoming sensory information. Finally, the motor function...
6.5K
Muscle Stimulation Frequency01:22

Muscle Stimulation Frequency

4.1K
The contraction strength of muscles is regulated by motor neurons, which modulate the frequency of action potentials dispatched to the motor units based on the body's requirements. This process of varying the muscle stimulation frequency allows muscles to contract with a force that is precisely tailored to the needs of the moment, whether lifting a feather or a heavy box.
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
4.1K
Law of Effect01:06

Law of Effect

2.3K
B.F. Skinner, a prominent figure in behavioral psychology, introduced operant conditioning by emphasizing the role of consequences in shaping behavior. This theory builds upon the law of effect proposed by Edward Thorndike, which posits that behaviors followed by satisfying outcomes are likely to be repeated. In contrast, those followed by unsatisfying outcomes are less likely to recur.
Edward Thorndike's foundational work involved studying learning in animals, particularly using puzzle...
2.3K
Action Potentials01:41

Action Potentials

140.4K
Overview
140.4K
Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

2.8K
A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
2.8K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Compatibility Effects With Simple Lever Tools: A Replication and Extension Beyond Simple Button Responses.

Human factors·2026
Same author

Is multitasking efficient? Different metrics, different conclusions.

Psychological research·2026
Same author

Agents' awareness of visuo-motor incongruency determines changes in haptic sensitivity.

Experimental brain research·2026
Same author

An attempt to replicate action-effect learning and its generalization without stimulus-stimulus learning.

Psychological research·2026
Same author

Response activation in error processing: Assessing leakage into upcoming action episodes.

Journal of experimental psychology. Human perception and performance·2026
Same author

Ten years Diffusion Model for Conflict (DMC) tasks: Theoretical foundations, applications, practical recommendations, and open challenges.

Psychonomic bulletin & review·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 15, 2025

An Open-Source, Fully Customizable 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Toolbox for Automated Behavioral Training of Rodents
09:39

An Open-Source, Fully Customizable 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Toolbox for Automated Behavioral Training of Rodents

Published on: January 19, 2022

4.6K

Are freely chosen actions generated by stimulus codes or effect codes?

Markus Janczyk1, Christoph Naefgen2, Wilfried Kunde3

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany. janczyk@uni-bremen.de.

Attention, Perception & Psychophysics
|July 10, 2020
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study tested internal stimulus and effect models of behavior control. Evidence supported both, with a stronger indication for the internal stimulus model in controlling actions.

Keywords:
Action controlAction effectsForced choiceFree choiceIntention

More Related Videos

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks
11:18

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

10.7K
Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 15, 2025

An Open-Source, Fully Customizable 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Toolbox for Automated Behavioral Training of Rodents
09:39

An Open-Source, Fully Customizable 5-Choice Serial Reaction Time Task Toolbox for Automated Behavioral Training of Rodents

Published on: January 19, 2022

4.6K
Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks
11:18

Closed-loop Neuro-robotic Experiments to Test Computational Properties of Neuronal Networks

Published on: March 2, 2015

10.7K
Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios
07:43

Author Spotlight: A Novel Setup to Conduct Naturalistic Laboratory Experiments with Real Human Actors in Scenarios

Published on: August 4, 2023

2.5K

Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Psychology
  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science

Background:

  • The control of human behavior is debated, with two main theories: the internal stimulus model and the internal effect model.
  • The internal stimulus model posits behavior is guided by prior stimuli associated with motor actions.
  • The internal effect model suggests behavior is directed by perceptual outcomes of motor actions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To experimentally test the predictive power of the internal stimulus model versus the internal effect model.
  • To investigate the underlying mental codes that govern voluntary motor control.

Main Methods:

  • An experimental paradigm was designed to differentiate between stimulus-controlled and effect-controlled behavior.
  • Behavioral data was collected and analyzed to assess the influence of preceding stimuli and resulting perceptual effects.

Main Results:

  • The study found evidence supporting both the internal stimulus and internal effect models.
  • A stronger evidence base emerged for the internal stimulus model in explaining behavioral control.
  • The findings indicate a complex interplay between stimulus and effect codes in guiding actions.

Conclusions:

  • Both internal stimulus and effect codes contribute to the control of behavior.
  • The internal stimulus model appears to play a more dominant role.
  • The developed experimental setup offers a valuable tool for future research on behavioral control mechanisms.