toiminguBefore

ToiminguBefore is a hypothetical neologism used in a minority of cognitive science and human-computer interaction writings to denote the preparatory phase that precedes an intentional action. The term highlights the mental and contextual processes that occur before motor initiation, including intention formation, goal clarification, planning, and readiness for movement in a given situation.

Etymology and usage: The coinage blends elements suggestive of action with the English word before. It was first proposed in theoretical discussions around 2020 by researchers examining cross-linguistic vocabulary for pre-action states. Because it remains uncommon and is described by some as a hypothetical term rather than an established category, it has appeared primarily in theoretical discussions and conference papers rather than formal taxonomies.

Concept and scope: ToiminguBefore aims to capture a transitional set of processes that occur after a decision to act but before the action itself. It encompasses anticipation of outcomes, evaluation of possible actions, resource preparation, and situational assessment. The concept sits between intention formation and motor planning and is related to, yet distinct from, readiness potentials in neuroscience.

Applications: In psychology experiments, the notion helps researchers describe and manipulate the pre-action interval to separate planning from execution. In product design and human-computer interaction, it informs anticipatory cues and workflow scaffolding that reduce latency between choice and action. In robotics and artificial intelligence, it provides a frame for modeling pre-movement decision scheduling.

Reception: The term remains niche and somewhat controversial. Critics argue that it overlaps with established notions of intention, decision-making, and motor planning, potentially reducing clarity. Proponents maintain that it offers a concise label for a real, observable pre-action state.

Related ideas include intention formation, action initiation, motor planning, Bereitschaftspotential, and pre-action states.