Neural mechanisms of self-generated action sequences

Self-generated actions are often studied as isolated, arbitrary movements, whereas real behaviour typically involves solving problems through sequences of goal-directed acts. Using EEG during a modified Tower of London task, we show that neural markers of self-generated action are strongest when participants initiate a planned action sequence and diminish as the sequence unfolds. Readiness potentials, motor beta suppression and multivariate decoding all distinguished self-generated from stimulus-driven actions during preparation. These results show that the neural signatures of self-generated action are closely linked to planning demands, bridging the neuroscience of volition with the psychology of problem-solving.