Ideomotor Acts
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
Ideomotor acts are involuntary movements preceded by vivid motor representations, such as imagining drawing a circle leading to slight circular hand movements. These acts are based on a relatively primitive reflex process where the subjective side is a specific motor image.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
IDEOMOTOR ACTS, involuntary actions preceded by particularly vivid motor representations. Thus, a very intense mental image of drawing a circle can entail slight circular movements of the hand. At the base of ideomotor acts lies a relatively primitive reflex process, the subjective side of which is a definite motor image.
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Cite this page
“Ideomotor Acts.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/ideomotor-acts/