premovement

Premovement refers to the set of neural and cognitive processes that prepare the body for voluntary action before the movement begins. It encompasses planning, decision making about whether and when to move, and the emergence of neural signals that indicate movement readiness. Premovement activity shapes how a movement is executed and its timing, and it can be studied in isolation from the actual motor execution.

The concept is closely linked to the Bereitschaftspotential, or readiness potential, first described in the 1960s by Kornhuber and Deecke through EEG recordings. This slow negative shift in brain activity begins one second or more before a self-initiated movement and is commonly divided into early and late components, thought to reflect different stages of preparation and motor command specification.

Neural sources of premovement signals include the supplementary motor area and premotor cortex as primary generators of preparatory activity, with additional contributions from the primary motor cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, and cerebellum. These regions participate in planning sequences, timing, and the initiation or release of movement, integrating intentions with sensory expectations and motor constraints.

Functionally, premovement signals reflect planning and the provisional specification of motor commands, as well as the reduction of competing motor activity to enable a chosen action. The relationship between premovement activity and conscious intention is a topic of ongoing debate, particularly in discussions of volition and free will.

Methodologically, premovement is studied using EEG, magnetoencephalography, and functional imaging, and has applications in brain-computer interfaces and the investigation of motor disorders. Variability across individuals, task demands, and movement complexity can influence the presence and characteristics of premovement signals.