Stimuli caused by our own voluntary actions receive a special treatment in the brain. In auditory processing, the N1 and/or P2 components of the auditory event-related brain potential (ERP) to self-initiated sounds are attenuated compared to passive sound exposure, which has been interpreted as an indicator of a predictive internal forward mechanism. Such a predictive mechanism enables differentiating the sensory consequences of one´s own actions from other sensory input and allows the mind to attribute actions to agents and particularly to the self, usually called the “sense of agency”. However, the notion that N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects to self-initiated sounds reflect internal forward model predictions is still controversial. Furthermore, little is known about the relationship between N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects and the sense of agency. Thus, the aim of the present thesis was to further investigate the nature of the N1 and/or P2 attenuation effect to self-initiated sounds and to examine its specific relationship to the sense of agency. The present thesis provides evidence that N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects to self-initiated sounds are mainly determined by movement intention and predictive internal motor signals involved in movement planning and rules out non-predictive explanations of these effects. Importantly, it is shown that sensory attenuation effects in audition are directly related to the feeling of agency, but occur independent of agency judgments. Taken together, the present thesis supports the assumptions of internal forward model theories.

Stimuli caused by our own voluntary actions receive a special treatment in the brain. In auditory processing, the N1 and/or P2 components of the auditory event-related brain potential (ERP) to self-initiated sounds are attenuated compared to passive sound exposure, which has been interpreted as an indicator of a predictive internal forward mechanism. Such a predictive mechanism enables differentiating the sensory consequences of one´s own actions from other sensory input and allows the mind to attribute actions to agents and particularly to the self, usually called the “sense of agency”. However, the notion that N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects to self-initiated sounds reflect internal forward model predictions is still controversial. Furthermore, little is known about the relationship between N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects and the sense of agency. Thus, the aim of the present thesis was to further investigate the nature of the N1 and/or P2 attenuation effect to self-initiated sounds and to examine its specific relationship to the sense of agency. The present thesis provides evidence that N1 and/or P2 attenuation effects to self-initiated sounds are mainly determined by movement intention and predictive internal motor signals involved in movement planning and rules out non-predictive explanations of these effects. Importantly, it is shown that sensory attenuation effects in audition are directly related to the feeling of agency, but occur independent of agency judgments. Taken together, the present thesis supports the assumptions of internal forward model theories.

Many companies have a large collection of different model variants and results. Hexagon's (formerly MSC Software) software Odyssee helps to find out what information is contained in this data. New calculations can sometimes be avoided because the results for new parameter combinations can be predicted from the existing calculations. This is particularly interesting for non-linear or large models with long run times. The software also helps when setting up new DOEs and offers a variety of options for statistical displays. In the lecture, the number-based and image-based methods are compared. / Viele Firmen können auf eine große Sammlung vorhandener Rechnungen für verschiedene Modellvarianten zurückgreifen. Die Software Odyssee von Hexagon (früher MSC Software) hilft herauszufinden, welche Informationen in diesen Daten stecken. Neue Rechnungen kann man sich teilweise ersparen, weil die Ergebnisse für neue Parameterkombinationen aus den vorhandenen Rechnungen vorhergesagt werden können. Dies ist besonders interessant für nichtlineare oder große Modelle mit langer Rechenzeit. Die Software hilft auch beim Aufsetzen neuer DOEs und bietet vielfältige Möglichkeiten für statistische Darstellungen. In dem Vortrag werden die zahlenbasierte und bildbasierte Methode gegenübergestellt.