Internally Generated Preactivation of Single Neurons in Human Medial Frontal Cortex Predicts Volition

• Published in: Neuron (Cambridge, Mass.) Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 548 - 562
• Main Authors: Fried, Itzhak, Mukamel, Roy, Kreiman, Gabriel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 10.02.2011; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Brain; Female; Forecasting; Frontal Lobe - physiology; Humans; Male; Medical imaging; Middle Aged; Movement - physiology; Neurons; Neurons - physiology; Reaction Time - physiology; Studies; Volition - physiology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0896-6273; 1097-4199; 1097-4199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2010.11.045

Understanding how self-initiated behavior is encoded by neuronal circuits in the human brain remains elusive. We recorded the activity of 1019 neurons while twelve subjects performed self-initiated finger movement. We report progressive neuronal recruitment over ∼1500 ms before subjects report making the decision to move. We observed progressive increase or decrease in neuronal firing rate, particularly in the supplementary motor area (SMA), as the reported time of decision was approached. A population of 256 SMA neurons is sufficient to predict in single trials the impending decision to move with accuracy greater than 80% already 700 ms prior to subjects' awareness. Furthermore, we predict, with a precision of a few hundred ms, the actual time point of this voluntary decision to move. We implement a computational model whereby volition emerges once a change in internally generated firing rate of neuronal assemblies crosses a threshold. [Display omitted] ► Progressive changes in firing rates precede self-initiated movements ► Medial frontal cortex units signal volition onset before subjects' awareness ► Prediction level is high (90%) based on neuronal responses in single trials ► Volition could arise from accumulation of ensemble activity crossing a threshold