Neuroscientist argues the brain lacks a central decision-making hub

Tom James, a professor in Indiana University's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, has published a paper questioning the existence of a central decision-making unit in the brain. He argues that what feels like a conscious choice actually emerges from the simultaneous interplay of sensory input, motor output, and bodily dynamics, a process he terms 'action selection.' Drawing on philosophical physicalism, James treats decisions as abstract descriptions that cannot physically cause movement, much like a center of mass.

He illustrates his point with examples such as a robot that follows walls without any decision module, suggesting that apparent intentionality can arise from simple sensorimotor loops. James also critiques the classic 'sandwich model' and warns that positing a higher-level controller leads to an infinite regress. He calls for experimental approaches that capture the complex, concurrent nature of perception, action, and environment to better understand decision-related behavior.