How Uncertainty and Surprise Affect Our Brain's Readiness to Move
Author Information
Author(s): Sven Bestmann, Lee M. Harrison, Felix Blankenburg, Rogier B. Mars, Patrick Haggard, Karl J. Friston, John C. Rothwell
Primary Institution: University College London
Hypothesis
How does the motor system's excitability change based on the uncertainty and surprise of visual cues during action preparation?
Conclusion
The study found that corticospinal excitability varies with the uncertainty and surprise of visual cues, influencing reaction times and motor output.
Supporting Evidence
- Corticospinal excitability increases with low entropy and low surprise.
- Participants responded faster in blocks with more valid trials.
- CSE was larger for the cued muscle compared to the uncued muscle.
Takeaway
When we get a hint about what action to take, our brain gets ready to move faster if the hint is clear and not surprising.
Methodology
Participants performed an instructed delay task while their corticospinal excitability was measured using transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Limitations
Some participants were excluded due to high error rates, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
13 healthy right-handed volunteers (5 females, average age 27 years).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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