Challenges to free will: transgenerational epigenetic information, unconscious processes, and vanishing twin syndrome

Abstract

Here, we present various research results and thoughts with the intention of challenging notions about free choice. Namely, we describe the concept of transgenerational transmission of epigenetic information and discuss its non-conscious effects on cognitive abilities, behavioral and emotional patterns, and responses with regard to one's life and decisions, and the impact these have on the concept of free will. In addition, we discuss the essential role of unconscious mechanisms in human decision processes. We also show that twin loss in the womb can have a powerful lifelong impact on the surviving twin through non-conscious context-dependent epigenetic changes. Finally, we hypothesize that human explicit self-consciousness may be an active executer that intermediates between unconsciousness and the external environment by means of feedback and feed-forward interactions. This executive function makes it possible for self-consciousness to continuously develop in self-organized evolution.