252 Self and the Phenomenon of Life
b2726 Self and the Phenomenon of Life: A Biologist Examines Life from Molecules to Humanity “9x6”as pinching the nipples.^25 Functional MRI study of a patient exhibiting
alien hand syndrome revealed the activation of the primary motor cortex
only, whereas voluntary hand movements of the same patient were cor-
related with activation of other areas as well, including the premotor and
supplementary motor areas.^26 These cases illustrate that, in a pathological
state, a person can be the causative agent of an action without the con-
scious feeling of being one.
The parietal lobe is responsible for dynamic representation of
bodily image, including that of the limbs. Patients with parietal lobe
damage may confuse their hand movements with those of other people.
This corroborates the notion that the parietal lobe is involved in the
sense of agency of an act.^27
Frontal lobe lesions lead to symptoms related to loss of volition and
executive function. Abulia refers to the absence of initiative and motiva-
tion, whereas in akinetic mutism (a more severe form of abulia) there is
lack of spontaneous movement and the urge to communicate.
Illusion of voluntary limb movement can happen in people imme-
diately after amputation, provided that the limb was functional before
the event.^28 Such phantom movement of a lost limb depends on an intact
parietal lobe.27,29 Some schizophrenic patients, when moving their body
parts, may have the delusion that such movements are under the control of
someone else. These patients lose the sense of agency for their movement.
Hypnosis and brain washing can distort volition. If a person under
hypnotic trance is instructed to perform a certain act, like opening a
window, he may execute the order upon waking up, without knowing
why he does it. If asked, he may rationalize the action with irrelevant
explanations like the room is too hot, when in fact it is not. Long-term
indoctrination (brain washing) has the same effect as hypnosis.
Notes and References
- James W. (1890) The Principles of Psychology. Vol. 1, Henry Holt; Dover,
New York, 1950, p. 453.