In the 1980s a neurobiologist named Benjamin Libet completed a number of experiments on consciousness where he measured the bereitschaftpotential (readiness potential) in subjects as they made volitional decisions. What he discovered was that readiness potentials precede volitional decisions to perform conscious activities. In other words, before people were conscious, specific areas of the brain were predictably active prior to the subject’s having realized they had made a conscious decision.
This experiment has been taken as evidence against free-will. But what do you think?
I rather liked the definitions of free will in the first link.
I think that those that rally behind this as proof of no free will have a very limited education. Our physical instincts are in place for survival. Our body reactions should not be tied to higher brain function in this subject .
If you give instructions to the volunteer about act react is that not preprogramming and so affect the outcome? Would not the proper test be not giving any information?
I am reminded of the old mind game of telling someone to not think of a specified object.