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Free will: Soon et al (2008) & Smith (2011)

  1. In Soon et al (2008), what area(s) did the authors state that previous research found to be active before participants chose to push a button?
    • supplementary motor area
    • primary motor cortices
    • frontopolar cortex
    • precuneus
    • posterior cingulate cortex
  2. In Soon et al (2008), participants were asked to respond twice on every trial in the fMRI experiment. In Part A, participants pushed either the left or right button whenever they chose to. In Part B, participants were asked to which of the following?
    • Participants indicated whether they chose to respond with the left or right button in Part A
    • Participants selected the letter that was on the screen when they chose to respond in the Part A
    • Participants reported how long it had been since they responded in Part A with a key pad
  3. In Soon et al (2008), in which brain regions were they able to decode whether participants responded with the left or right button before they reported having made the decision?
    • supplementary motor area
    • primary motor cortices
    • frontopolar cortex
    • precuneus
    • posterior cingulate cortex
  4. In Smith (2011), philosophers are quoted critiquing the conclusions of Song et al (2008). What is the primary basis for this critique?
    • Song et al (2008)’s conclusion assumes that the “mind” and “brain” are separate
    • Song et al (2008) have not replicated their findings
    • If Song et al (2008)’s conclusions were correct, there would be a breakdown of law and order
    • Song et al (2008) did not use sophisticated enough techniques to answer the question
  5. Smith (2011) discusses research from Kathleen Vohs on how people behave when they have more deterministic views. In that work, participants were found to be more likely to …
    • act immorally
    • not act at all
    • behave no differently
  6. Is there a question about these readings that you would like to discuss in class?