Retention of a temporal discrimination in pigeons

AbstractOur ability to discriminate temporal intervals can be improved with practice. This learning is generally thought to reflect an enhancement in the representation of a trained interval, which leads to interval-specific improvements in temporal discrimination. In the present study, we asked whether temporal learning is further constrained by context-specific factors dictated through the trained stimulus and task structure. Two groups of participants were trained using a single-interval auditory discrimination task over 5 days. Training intervals were either one of eight predetermined values (FI group), or random from trial to trial (RI group). Before and after the training period, we measured discrimination performance using an untrained two-interval temporal comparison task. Our results revealed a selective improvement in the FI group, but not the RI group. However, this learning did not generalize between the trained and untrained tasks. These results highlight the sensitivity of TPL to stimulus and task structure, suggesting that mechanisms of temporal learning rely on processes beyond changes in interval representation.

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Joint stimulus control in a temporal discrimination task

Animal Cognition ◽

10.1007/s10071-017-1130-6 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

pp. 1129-1136 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Carlos Pinto ◽

Inês Fortes ◽

Armando Machado

Keyword(s):

Stimulus Control ◽

Discrimination Task ◽

Temporal Discrimination

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Timing, Storage, and Comparison of Stimulus Duration Engage Discrete Anatomical Components of a Perceptual Timing Network

Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience ◽

10.1162/jocn.2008.20153 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 20 (12) ◽

pp. 2185-2197 ◽

Cited By ~ 99

Author(s):

Jennifer T. Coull ◽

Bruno Nazarian ◽

Franck Vidal

Keyword(s):

Stimulus Duration ◽

Brain Activity ◽

Temporal Discrimination ◽

Superior Temporal Gyrus ◽

Motor Preparation ◽

Long Term Memory ◽

Temporal Encoding ◽

Perceptual Timing ◽

The Right

The temporal discrimination paradigm requires subjects to compare the duration of a probe stimulus to that of a sample previously stored in working or long-term memory, thus providing an index of timing that is independent of a motor response. However, the estimation process itself comprises several component cognitive processes, including timing, storage, retrieval, and comparison of durations. Previous imaging studies have attempted to disentangle these components by simply measuring brain activity during early versus late scanning epochs. We aim to improve the temporal resolution and precision of this approach by using rapid event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging to time-lock the hemodynamic response to presentation of the sample and probe stimuli themselves. Compared to a control (color-estimation) task, which was matched in terms of difficulty, sustained attention, and motor preparation requirements, we found selective activation of the left putamen for the storage (“encoding”) of stimulus duration into working memory (WM). Moreover, increased putamen activity was linked to enhanced timing performance, suggesting that the level of putamen activity may modulate the depth of temporal encoding. Retrieval and comparison of stimulus duration in WM selectively activated the right superior temporal gyrus. Finally, the supplementary motor area was equally active during both sample and probe stages of the task, suggesting a fundamental role in timing the duration of a stimulus that is currently unfolding in time.

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Effects of chronic dietary choline on temporal discrimination of BN and WAG rats

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/0031-9384(92)90068-d ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 51 (5) ◽

pp. 899-908 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

F.Josef van der Staay ◽

Wijnand G.M. Raaijmakers ◽

Sjeng Kerbusch

Keyword(s):

Temporal Discrimination ◽

Dietary Choline

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