Mind and movement

Psychol Res. 2012 Mar;76(2):159-70. doi: 10.1007/s00426-011-0332-9. Epub 2011 Apr 8.

Abstract

Voluntary movements embrace both intentional, conscious and post-intentional, largely automatic processes. Here, we examine these types of processes and the relations between them during preparation and execution of voluntary movements. First, a general overview is given about how intentional and post-intentional components are interleaved to enable successful control of purposeful movements. Second, we briefly describe some post-intentional processes that are triggered by preceding intentions. Third, we discuss findings according to which such post-intentional processes or their results can become accessible to conscious awareness. Under such conditions, automatic and conscious processes can co-occur. We show that intentional interventions into post-intentional processes can be overridden by automatic processes, can interfere with automatic processes and can be independent so that their outcomes add to those of automatic processes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Awareness / physiology*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Consciousness / physiology
  • Humans
  • Movement / physiology*
  • Psychophysiology