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Letter: I'll think about it

Published 5 June 2013

From Leslie Want

We have been told that when a person imagines they are playing tennis, the parts of the brain associated with actually playing the game “light up”. We are also told that when a person makes a decision, the part of the brain associated with the decision “lights up” before the person is conscious of making the decision (18 May, p 37).

Surely this is to be expected? An important part of the decision-making process is to mentally rehearse the consequences. Thus the part of the brain involved is active before the decision is made. Are we not observing the decision-making process rather than the actual decision?

Swansea, UK

Issue no. 2920 published 8 June 2013

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