The Libet Study: Questioning the Distinction Between Moving and Intending to Move
Presenter Hometown
Franklin, KY
Major
M.S., General Psychology
Department
Psychology
Degree
Graduate
Mentor
Adam L. Lawson
Mentor Department
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Sanford, Paul; Major, Madison; and King, Alexandria N., "The Libet Study: Questioning the Distinction Between Moving and Intending to Move" (2019). University Presentation Showcase Event. 5.
https://encompass.eku.edu/swps/2019/graduate/5
Abstract
Much research has been dedicated to examining brain processes associated with conscious intention. One line of research has employed the Libet paradigm, in which participants make voluntary hand movements and report the moment of movement initiation or the moment of intention to move (Libet, Gleason, Wright, & Pearl, 1983). While this paradigm has been used in hundreds of studies, several researchers have questioned its assumptions, validity, and reliability. Dominik et al. (2017) provided evidence against the implicit assumption that the intention to move and the movement itself are distinct events. In this study, in which researchers did not train participants to make a distinction between movement and intention, participants’ reports for intention and movement were identical. The current study replicated these findings. Participants (N = 23) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups performed the same tasks, and the only difference between groups was order of task completion. In both tasks participants made mouse clicks while tracking time via an analog clock. In the M Task participants reported the moment they initiated their click. In the W Task participants reported the moment they had the intention to click. Crucially, participants were not told about the existence of the second task when given instructions for the first. Results showed an interaction of group and task, F(1, 2138) = 79.047, p
Presentation format
Poster
The Libet Study: Questioning the Distinction Between Moving and Intending to Move
Much research has been dedicated to examining brain processes associated with conscious intention. One line of research has employed the Libet paradigm, in which participants make voluntary hand movements and report the moment of movement initiation or the moment of intention to move (Libet, Gleason, Wright, & Pearl, 1983). While this paradigm has been used in hundreds of studies, several researchers have questioned its assumptions, validity, and reliability. Dominik et al. (2017) provided evidence against the implicit assumption that the intention to move and the movement itself are distinct events. In this study, in which researchers did not train participants to make a distinction between movement and intention, participants’ reports for intention and movement were identical. The current study replicated these findings. Participants (N = 23) were randomly assigned to one of two groups. Both groups performed the same tasks, and the only difference between groups was order of task completion. In both tasks participants made mouse clicks while tracking time via an analog clock. In the M Task participants reported the moment they initiated their click. In the W Task participants reported the moment they had the intention to click. Crucially, participants were not told about the existence of the second task when given instructions for the first. Results showed an interaction of group and task, F(1, 2138) = 79.047, p
