Scientists Spot Brain's 'Free Will' Center

"These areas are the most expanded in humans as compared to animals," explained Dr. Kimford Meador, spokesman for the American Academy of Neurology and professor of neurology at the University of Florida, Gainesville. "The frontal lobe is important for initiation, for planning, personality, creativity."

"The frontal lobes distinguish us from lower-order creatures," added David Masur, director of neuropsychology in the department of neurology at Montefiore Medical Center and clinical professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, both in New York City. "We have larger frontal lobes, and these are what really are responsible for much of what we define as human behavior, social interaction, ability to plan, organize, some language ability, abstract reasoning or thinking."

For now, the implications of the research are esoteric but, down the line, who knows?

"Much of our society is based on the concept of not only free will but also 'free won't,' the inhibition of response," Masur explained. "The difference between us as intelligent ordered social creatures and the society that would run amok is the ability to inhibit our responses, the ability to take control if a situation calls for it, tostopacting in a particular way . . . Maybe down the line somebody can develop a drug or hormone or transmitter system that targets that particular area of brain which strengthens the ability to negate responses which are too impulsive."

"It's a fascinating mind-brain question about where does our free will begin and end," added Meador.

More information

There's more on how the brain is structured at Brainexplorer.org.

SOURCES: Kimford Meador, M.D., professor, neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, and spokesman, American Academy of Neurology; Rajesh Miranda, Ph.D., associate professor, neuroscience and experimental therapeutics, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine; David Masur, Ph.D., director, neuropsychology, department of neurology, Montefiore Medical Center and clinical professor of neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York City; John Hart, M.D., behavioral neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist, University of Texas at Dallas, and spokesman, American Academy of Neurology; Aug. 22, 2007,The Journal of Neuroscience