The forward model monitors the success of sensory feedback to an action and links it to an efference copy originating in the motor system. The Readiness Potential (RP) of the electroencephalogram has been denoted as a neural signature of the efference copy. An open question is whether imagined sensory feedback works similarly to real sensory feedback. We investigated the RP to audible and imagined sounds in a button-press paradigm and assessed the role of sound complexity (vocal vs. non-vocal sound).

Sensory feedback (both audible and imagined) in response to a voluntary action modulated the RP amplitude time-locked to the button press. The RP amplitude increase was larger for actions with expected sensory feedback (audible and imagined) than those without sensory feedback, and associated with N1 suppression for audible sounds. Further, the early RP phase was increased when actions elicited an imagined vocal (self-voice) compared to non-vocal sound.

Our results support the notion that sensory feedback is anticipated before voluntary actions. This is the case for both audible and imagined sensory feedback and confirms a role of overt and covert feedback in the forward model.

前向模型监视对动作的感官反馈的成功，并将其链接到源自电机系统的有效副本。脑电图的准备潜力（RP）已被表示为有效副本的神经特征。一个悬而未决的问题是想象的感觉反馈是否与真实的感觉反馈相似。我们以按键方式研究了RP的可听声音和想象声音，并评估了声音复杂性（声音与非声音）的作用。

响应于自发动作的感觉反馈（听觉和想象的）调节了RP振幅，该振幅被锁定在按钮按下时。具有预期感官反馈（听觉和想象的）的动作的RP振幅增加要大于没有感官反馈且与N1抑制相关的可听声音的动作。此外，与非声音相比，当动作引起想象中的声音（自我声音）时，早期RP阶段会增加。

我们的结果支持这样一种观念，即在自愿采取行动之前就可以预期到感觉反馈。对于听觉和想象的感觉反馈都是这种情况，并证实了正向模型中公开和隐性反馈的作用。