Free Will; more studies like Libet's (The nature of a \'Creator\')

by David Turell , Friday, February 26, 2021, 18:57 (1365 days ago) @ David Turell

Muscle movement shows preparation time:

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-02-body-independent-muscle-sensors.html

"Voluntary movements are prepared before they are executed. For example, such preparation occurs in the period between seeing a coffee cup and starting to reach for it. Neurons in many areas of the brain change their activity during movement preparation in ways that reflect different aspects of the goal, such as the intended movement direction.

"It is well-known that preparation improves reaction time and the overall quality of movements, but it has been unclear how preparatory brain activity gives rise to improved motor performance. There have been no evidence of goal-related preparatory changes in muscles. However, a new study from Umeå University has identified a specific preparatory neural mechanism that can lead to improved motor performance.

"'Our study demonstrates a preparatory change in the sensitivity of muscle spindle receptors and the motor reflexes they enable," says Dr. Michael Dimitriou who headed this study and is a Research Fellow at the Department of Integrative Medical Biology of Umeå University.

***

"'When preparing to reach in a particular direction, we found that reflex sensitivity and muscle stiffness is selectively decreased in muscles that are about to stretch. To facilitate reaching the goal, the nervous system seems to independently modulate the 'breaks' in an advantageous manner before initiating movement," says Dr. Dimitriou. "Beyond its role in movement preparation, the independent control of sensory receptors may be another way in which the nervous system routinely exerts goal-dependent control, in addition to the top-down control of muscle force and the selective processing of sensory signals."

Comment: No surprise, just more confirmation of the efficiency pf neve muscle controls.