A paradoxical role for inhibition in initiation.
Subliminal stimuli, of which subjects are unaware, affect movements made to subsequent visible cues. Sumner and colleagues in this issue of Neuron show that restricted supplementary motor and eye field lesions compromise voluntary control of action because they disrupt the normal unconscious and automatic inhibition of alternative movements partially activated by subliminal stimuli.
Rushworth
Matthew F S
MF
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. matthew.rushworth@psy.ox.ac.uk
Taylor
Paul C J
PC
D000818:Animals; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012018:Reflex / Q000502:physiology*; D014473:Unconscious, Psychology; D014836:Volition / Q000502:physiology