Explicit versus Implicit control

Implicit control over brain activation is learned through the normal development and acquisition of new skills. Unaware, we implicitly control brain activation with every voluntary action performed. Every perspective a mind takes activates particular brain mechanisms.

Explicit control over brain activity is that which must be deliberately controlled. A subject must be conscious and take charge over brain activation through deliberate choices. An example given by Christopher DeCharms (2008) is the case whereby one can learn to control activation (pain in DeCharms study) in a region of their brain by exerting exactly the type of thought that will maximize or minimize its activation. It will be interesting to observe to what extent people can learn greater explicit control over their brain activation in an area of their brain by training and the consequences of such training. Charms noted that real-time functional MRI has the potential to bring normally non-conscious brain processes into our conscious awareness. This will transform implicit control of brain activation into explicit control.
Click here for DeCharms full pdf article of the pain study