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Online Seminars

We launched a series of online, interdisciplinary seminars related to the neurophilosophy of free will. Each seminar generally features a talk by a neuroscientist and a talk by a philosopher followed by moderated Q&A.

The Power and Limits of Neuroscience Research Paradigms on Action and Free Will

 

Neuroscientist: John Assad, Ph.D. – Harvard Medical School

Philosopher: Manuel Vargas, Ph.D. – UC San Diego

Moderator: Marie-Christine Nizzi, Ph.D. – Dartmouth College/Chapman University

 

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The Readiness Potential: What Does It Mean for Conscious Volition?

Neuroscientist: Aaron Schurger, Ph.D. – Chapman University

Philosopher: Adina Roskies, Ph.D. – Dartmouth College

Moderator: Tomáš Dominik, Ph.D. – Chapman University

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Responsibility Without Freedom

 

Neuroscientist: John-Dylan Haynes, Ph.D. – Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Philosopher: Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, Ph.D. – Duke University

Moderator: Kristina Krasich, Ph.D. – Duke University

 

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Sources and reasons: internal and external factors underlying freely-willed action – a neurophilosophical debate

 

Neuroscientist: Patrick Haggard, Ph.D. – University College London

Philosopher: Richard Holton, Ph.D. – University of Cambridge

Moderator: Elisabeth Parés, Ph.D. – University College London

 

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The 1st Annual Meeting of the Neurophilosophy of Free Will Consortium

COVER PAGE - Neuroscience Talk
The neural mechanisms underlying decision-making are typically examined by statistical analysis of large numbers of trials from sequentially recorded single neurons. Averaging across sequential recordings, however, obscures important aspects of decision-making such as variations in confidence and 'changes of mind' (CoM) that occur at variable times on different trials. I will show that the covert decision variables (DV) can be tracked dynamically on single behavioral trials via simultaneous recording of large neural populations in prefrontal cortex. Vacillations of the neural DV, in turn, identify candidate CoM in monkeys, which closely match the known properties of human CoM. Thus simultaneous population recordings can provide insight into transient, internal cognitive states that are otherwise undetectable.
COVER PAGE - Philosophy Talk
The stream of consciousness refers to ideas, images, and memories that meander across the mind when we are otherwise unoccupied. The standard view is that these thoughts are associationistic in character and they arise from subpersonal processes—we are for the most part passive observers of them. Drawing on a series of laboratory studies we have conducted as well as Buddhist models of mind, I argue that these views are importantly incorrect. On the alternative view I put forward, these thoughts arise from minimal decision processes, which lie in a grey zone: They are both manifestations of agency as well as obstacles to it.
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Invited Talks

Detecting Covert Cognitive States from Neural Population Recordings in Prefrontal Cortex

William Newsome, Ph.D.

July 1st, 2020, 10:30am ~ 12pm (PDT)

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Agency in the Stream of Consciousness: Perspectives from Cognitive Science and Buddhist Psychology

Chandra Sripada, Ph.D.

July 3rd, 2020, 10:30am ~ 12pm (PDT)

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