Two Asymmetries Governing Neural and Mental Timing

Libet's Timing of Mental Events: Commentary on the Commentaries

“…In the last section of their article, brilliantly titled ''The Future of Chronotheology,' ' Bolbecker et al (2002) present what I believe is the correct answer. They say:…”

“…There have been some wonderful technical discussions such as those carried out between Haggard and Libet (2001) and Trevena and Miller (2002) regarding the importance of the lateralized readiness potential and the precise causal circuitry involved in the volition decision. In addition, there have been lots of technical hasslings about biases that can shift some of the measured timings (Gomes, 2002a,b;Klein, 2002a,b;Pockett, 2002;Bolbecker et al, 2002;Joordens, Van Duijn, & Spalek, 2002;Breitmeyer, 2002;Durgin & Sternberg, 2002;van de Grind, 2002). As can be seen in my target and commentary articles (Klein, 2002a(Klein, , 2002b, I love finding flaws in other people's methodologies just as much as the other commentators.…”

“…Libet's beliefs on free will have been attacked for being out of step with mainstream neuroscience and for dabbling in dualism (Wood, 1985;Gomes, 1999;Bolbecker et al, 2002). In order to clarify this dualism, in my earlier commentary (Klein, 2002b) I distinguished free will (compatible with determinism) from Free Will (not compatible).…”

“…In order to clarify this dualism, in my earlier commentary (Klein, 2002b) I distinguished free will (compatible with determinism) from Free Will (not compatible). The above quotation from Libet (1999) shows that he has a noncompatibilist view, whereas most of the commentators have a compatibilist view (Gomes, 1999;Bolbecker et al, 2002). One's first tendency is to brand Libet as being out of step with modern scientific thought.…”

“…I suspect that if Libet would read Sperry's various writings on the topic he would discover great compatibility with his point of view. If he would adopt Sperry's language many of his detractors on this topic (Bolbecker et al, 2002;Gomes, 1999) would probably be pacified.…”