Abstract:  Rather than being a product of environmental prescriptions, a “stop-signal,” which inhibits actions, is mainly a result of the internally generated decision regarding whether or not to perform an action (i.e., intentional inhibition) at the last moment of the decision-making process. Because a “stop-signal” can not be evaluated by behavioral indicators (such as error rate or response time), the appropriate method of evaluation is to combine the “free choice” paradigm with techniques such as fMRI and EEG, for the examination of the biophysical characteristics of the relevant cranial nerves and automatic nerve system. Additionally, the processing of intentional inhibition is influenced by the addition of the subliminal priming and emotional information to the paradigm. The following are three promising directions for future research: (1) What is the role of dFMC in this psychological mechanism? (2) To what extent do individual difference in personality traits affect intentional inhibition? (3) How are internally generated “stop-signals” uesd in daily life?

Key words:  intentional action, intentional inhibition, free choice, dorsal fronto-median cortex