{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-09-26T23:27:23.730Z", "family": "Liljenstr\u00f6m", "given": "Hans", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-9938-2867", "affiliations": ["Agora for Biosystems, SLU, P.O. Box 7032, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden. Hans.liljenstrom@slu.se."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/79065fb2ef554fcc90238205ef26cf08.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/79065fb2ef554fcc90238205ef26cf08"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "9839aa01168949f9a99eefaf841afa79", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9839aa01168949f9a99eefaf841afa79.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/9839aa01168949f9a99eefaf841afa79"}}, "title": "Consciousness, decision making, and volition: freedom beyond chance and necessity.", "authors": [{"family": "Liljenstr\u00f6m", "given": "Hans", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-9938-2867", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/79065fb2ef554fcc90238205ef26cf08.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-06-00", "journal": {"title": "Theory Biosci", "issn": "1611-7530", "volume": "141", "issue": "2", "pages": "125-140", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "What is the role of consciousness in volition and decision-making? Are our actions fully determined by brain activity preceding our decisions to act, or can consciousness instead affect the brain activity leading to action? This has been much debated in philosophy, but also in science since the famous experiments by Libet in the 1980s, where the current most common interpretation is that conscious free will is an illusion. It seems that the brain knows, up to several seconds in advance what \"you\" decide to do. These studies have, however, been criticized, and alternative interpretations of the experiments can be given, some of which are discussed in this paper. In an attempt to elucidate the processes involved in decision-making (DM), as an essential part of volition, we have developed a computational model of relevant brain structures and their neurodynamics. While DM is a complex process, we have particularly focused on the amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) for its emotional, and the lateral prefrontal cortex (LPFC) for its cognitive aspects. In this paper, we present a stochastic population model representing the neural information processing of DM. Simulation results seem to confirm the notion that if decisions have to be made fast, emotional processes and aspects dominate, while rational processes are more time consuming and may result in a delayed decision. Finally, some limitations of current science and computational modeling will be discussed, hinting at a future development of science, where consciousness and free will may add to chance and necessity as explanation for what happens in the world.", "doi": "10.1007/s12064-021-00346-6", "pmid": "34046848", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC9184456"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "10.1007/s12064-021-00346-6"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T09:49:27.191Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T10:23:37.883Z"}, {"entity": "publication", "iuid": "7916674ed5fa406f9487fd64adfa151f", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/7916674ed5fa406f9487fd64adfa151f.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/7916674ed5fa406f9487fd64adfa151f"}}, "title": "Modeling effects of neural fluctuations and inter-scale interactions.", "authors": [{"family": "Liljenstr\u00f6m", "given": "Hans", "initials": "H", "orcid": "0000-0002-9938-2867", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/79065fb2ef554fcc90238205ef26cf08.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2018-10-00", "journal": {"title": "Chaos", "issn": "1089-7682", "volume": "28", "issue": "10", "pages": "106319", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "One of the greatest challenges to science, in particular, to neuroscience, is to understand how processes at different levels of organization are related to each other. In connection with this problem is the question of the functional significance of fluctuations, noise, and chaos. This paper deals with three related issues: (1) how processes at different organizational levels of neural systems might be related, (2) the functional significance of non-linear neurodynamics, including oscillations, chaos, and noise, and (3) how computational models can serve as useful tools in elucidating these types of issues. In order to capture and describe phenomena at different micro (molecular), meso (cellular), and macro (network) scales, the computational models need to be of appropriate complexity making use of available experimental data. I exemplify by two major types of computational models, those of Hans Braun and colleagues and those of my own group, which both aim at bridging gaps between different levels of neural systems. In particular, the constructive role of noise and chaos in such systems is modelled and related to functions, such as sensation, perception, learning/memory, decision making, and transitions between different (un-)conscious states. While there is, in general, a focus on upward causation, I will also discuss downward causation, where higher level activity may affect the activity at lower levels, which should be a condition for any functional role of consciousness and free will, often considered to be problematic to science.", "doi": "10.1063/1.5044510", "pmid": "30384657", "labels": [], "xrefs": [], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T13:30:31.716Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T13:30:31.784Z"}]}