Pharmacologic Properties of the Internal Clock Underlying Time Perception in Humans

1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 71-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Rammsayer ◽  
Wolfgang H. Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Internal Clock

scholarly journals Time perception and age

2016 ◽  
Vol 74 (4) ◽  
pp. 299-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Fernanda Moreira Ferreira ◽  
Gabriel Pina Paiva ◽  
Natália Prando ◽  
Carla Renata Graça ◽  
João Aris Kouyoumdjian
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Comparison Test ◽  
Clock System ◽  
Multiple Comparison Test ◽  
The Common ◽  
Bonferroni Multiple Comparison Test

ABSTRACT Our internal clock system is predominantly dopaminergic, but memory is predominantly cholinergic. Here, we examined the common sensibility encapsulated in the statement: “time goes faster as we get older”. Objective To measure a 2 min time interval, counted mentally in subjects of different age groups. Method 233 healthy subjects (129 women) were divided into three age groups: G1, 15-29 years; G2, 30-49 years; and G3, 50-89 years. Subjects were asked to close their eyes and mentally count the passing of 120 s. Results The elapsed times were: G1, mean = 114.9 ± 35 s; G2, mean = 96.0 ± 34.3 s; G3, mean = 86.6 ± 34.9 s. The ANOVA-Bonferroni multiple comparison test showed that G3 and G1 results were significantly different (P < 0.001). Conclusion Mental calculations of 120 s were shortened by an average of 24.6% (28.3 s) in individuals over age 50 years compared to individuals under age 30 years.

On the Relation between Time Perception and the Timing of Motor Action: Evidence for a Temporal Oscillator Controlling the Timing of Movement

1992 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel Treisman ◽  
Andrew Faulkner ◽  
Peter L. N. Naish
Keyword(s):  
Reaction Time ◽  
Time Perception ◽  
Choice Reaction Time ◽  
Characteristic Frequency ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Time Estimation ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Motor Timing ◽  
Motor Action ◽  
Perception Of Time

Studies of time estimation have provided evidence that human time perception is determined by an internal clock containing a temporal oscillator and have also provided estimates of the frequency of this oscillator (Treisman, Faulkner, Naish, & Brogan, 1992; Treisman & Brogan, 1992). These estimates were based on the observation that when the intervals to be estimated are accompanied by auditory clicks that recur at certain critical rates, perturbations in time estimation occur. To test the hypothesis that the mechanisms that underlie the perception of time and those that control the timing of motor performance are similar, analogous experiments were performed on motor timing, with the object of seeing whether evidence for a clock would be obtained and if so whether its properties resemble those of the time perception clock. The prediction was made that perturbations in motor timing would be seen at the same or similar critical auditory click rates. The experiments examined choice reaction time and typing. The results support the hypothesis that a temporal oscillator paces motor performance and that this oscillator is similar to the oscillator underlying time perception. They also provide an estimate of the characteristic frequency of the oscillator.

scholarly journals A supplementary experiment for Matthews (2011, Can we use verbal estimation to dissect the internal clock? Differentiating the effects of pacemaker rate, switch latencies, and judgment processes. Behavioural Processes, 86, 68--74.)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
William John Skylark
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Verbal Estimation

Matthews (2011) examined the use of verbal estimation in studies of time perception. During the process of archiving the data for the three experiments reported in that paper, I realised that I had conducted an earlier version of Experiment 1; the method was very similar to the published version, but a larger set of to-be-judged durations was used. The pattern of results is the same as in the published version (although slightly noisier, with fewer trials per cell of the design). I report this earlier study here for the sake of completeness; I do not currently intend to submit this report to a journal.

scholarly journals Logarithmic encoding of ensemble time intervals

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Ren ◽  
Fredrik Allenmark ◽  
Hermann J. Müller ◽  
Zhuanghua Shi
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Internal Representation ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Subjective Time ◽  
Logarithmic Scale ◽  
Linear Scale ◽  
Ensemble Averaging ◽  
Time Intervals

AbstractAlthough time perception is based on the internal representation of time, whether the subjective timeline is scaled linearly or logarithmically remains an open issue. Evidence from previous research is mixed: while the classical internal-clock model assumes a linear scale with scalar variability, there is evidence that logarithmic timing provides a better fit to behavioral data. A major challenge for investigating the nature of the internal scale is that the retrieval process required for time judgments may involve a remapping of the subjective time back to the objective scale, complicating any direct interpretation of behavioral findings. Here, we used a novel approach, requiring rapid intuitive ‘ensemble’ averaging of a whole set of time intervals, to probe the subjective timeline. Specifically, observers’ task was to average a series of successively presented, auditory or visual, intervals in the time range 300-1300 ms. Importantly, the intervals were taken from three sets of durations, which were distributed such that the arithmetic mean (from the linear scale) and the geometric mean (from the logarithmic scale) were clearly distinguishable. Consistently across the three sets and the two presentation modalities, our results revealed subjective averaging to be close to the geometric mean, indicative of a logarithmic timeline underlying time perception.

scholarly journals Clock Speed as a Window into Dopaminergic Control of Emotion and Time Perception

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 99-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruey-Kuang Cheng ◽  
Jason Tipples ◽  
Nandakumar S. Narayanan ◽  
Warren H. Meck
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Electric Shock ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Fixed Number ◽  
Frequency Model ◽  
Temporal Cognition ◽  
Clock Speed ◽  
Bisection Procedure

Although fear-producing treatments (e.g., electric shock) and pleasure-inducing treatments (e.g., methamphetamine) have different emotional valences, they both produce physiological arousal and lead to effects on timing and time perception that have been interpreted as reflecting an increase in speed of an internal clock. In this commentary, we review the results reported by Fayolle et al. (2015):Behav. Process., 120, 135–140) and Meck (1983: J. Exp. Psychol. Anim. Behav. Process., 9, 171–201) using electric shock and by Maricq et al. (1981: J. Exp. Psychol. Anim. Behav. Process., 7, 18–30) using methamphetamine in a duration-bisection procedure across multiple duration ranges. The psychometric functions obtained from this procedure relate the proportion ‘long’ responses to signal durations spaced between a pair of ‘short’ and ‘long’ anchor durations. Horizontal shifts in these functions can be described in terms of attention or arousal processes depending upon whether they are a fixed number of seconds independent of the timed durations (additive) or proportional to the durations being timed (multiplicative). Multiplicative effects are thought to result from a change in clock speed that is regulated by dopamine activity in the medial prefrontal cortex. These dopaminergic effects are discussed within the context of the striatal beat frequency model of interval timing (Matell & Meck, 2004:Cogn. Brain Res.,21, 139–170) and clinical implications for the effects of emotional reactivity on temporal cognition (Parker et al., 2013:Front. Integr. Neurosci., 7, 75).

scholarly journals Logarithmic encoding of ensemble time intervals

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yue Ren ◽  
Fredrik Allenmark ◽  
Hermann J. Müller ◽  
Zhuanghua Shi
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Internal Representation ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Time Range ◽  
Subjective Time ◽  
Logarithmic Scale ◽  
Linear Scale ◽  
Ensemble Averaging ◽  
Time Intervals

Abstract Although time perception is based on the internal representation of time, whether the subjective timeline is scaled linearly or logarithmically remains an open issue. Evidence from previous research is mixed: while the classical internal-clock model assumes a linear scale with scalar variability, there is evidence that logarithmic timing provides a better fit to behavioral data. A major challenge for investigating the nature of the internal scale is that the retrieval process required for time judgments may involve a remapping of the subjective time back to the objective scale, complicating any direct interpretation of behavioral findings. Here, we used a novel approach, requiring rapid intuitive ‘ensemble’ averaging of a whole set of time intervals, to probe the subjective timeline. Specifically, observers’ task was to average a series of successively presented, auditory or visual, intervals in the time range 300–1300 ms. Importantly, the intervals were taken from three sets of durations, which were distributed such that the arithmetic mean (from the linear scale) and the geometric mean (from the logarithmic scale) were clearly distinguishable. Consistently across the three sets and the two presentation modalities, our results revealed subjective averaging to be close to the geometric mean, indicative of a logarithmic timeline underlying time perception.

scholarly journals Group congruent labelling leads to subjective expansion of time

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 201063
Author(s):  
Shruti Tewari ◽  
Mukesh Makwana ◽  
Narayanan Srinivasan
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Source Attribution ◽  
Religious Groups ◽  
Top Down ◽  
Temporal Experience ◽  
Clock Model ◽  
Group Context ◽  
Attentional Deployment ◽  
City Street

Given top-down effects on perception, we examined the effect of group identity on time perception. We investigated whether the duration of an ambiguous sound clip is processed differently as a function of group congruent or incongruent source attribution. Group congruent (in-group) and incongruent (out-group) context was created by attributing the source of an identical ambiguous sound clip to Hindu or Muslim festivals. Participants from both the religious groups (Hindus and Muslims) prospectively listened to a 20 s long ambiguous sound clip and reproduced its duration (experiment 1a). Both groups reproduced significantly longer durations when the sound clip was associated with the group congruent compared to the group incongruent festival contexts. The two groups did not differ significantly in reproduced duration when the sound attributed to a non-religious common (busy city street) context (experiment 1b). With multiple durations (1, 5, 10 and 20 s), longer durations were reproduced for group congruent labelling at objectively longer durations (experiment 2). According to the internal clock model of time perception, the significant slope effect indicated that the group congruent context influences temporal experience through changes in pacemaker frequency. We argue that the duration appearing relevant to one's own group is processed differently possibly owing to differences in attentional deployment, which influences the pacemaker frequency.

scholarly journals The Effects of Subthreshold Autistic Traits On Time Perception: The Regulation of Interpersonal Information Association

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Xuan ◽  
Shuo Li ◽  
Lu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Autistic Traits ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Clock Frequency ◽  
Bisection Point ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Self Association ◽  
Interpersonal Information ◽  
Weber Ratio

Abstract Background People with high subthreshold autistic traits usually show structural impairments like those with autism spectrum disorder, but with less social and cognitive impairments. The effect of autistic traits on time perception and the role of interpersonal information on this effect remains unexplored. Methods This study used a temporal bisection task between 400–1600 ms to compare the time perception of individuals with higher and lower autistic traits, and to explore the influence of interpersonal information on their time perception by establishing associations between interpersonal information and geometric figures. A total of 32 participants with high autistic traits and 31 participants with low autistic traits took part in the study. Results In the absence of identity information, people with high autistic traits tended to judge short durations as longer, and their Weber ratio was higher than those with low autistic traits, suggesting that their overestimation of short duration is due to decreased temporal sensitivity and increased internal clock frequency. With the addition of interpersonal information, individuals with high and low autistic traits had faster responses to self in the identity-figure association, and the subjective bisection point was shorter. However, it took longer for individuals with high autistic traits to build the self-association, and there was no difference in the proportion of long response and Weber ratio between individuals with high and low autistic traits when identity was involved. Conclusion These results suggest that individuals with high autistic traits have a higher central tendency, and this change is related to the decline of perceptual sensitivity. Actively guiding attention to interpersonal information can improve the time perception sensitivity of individuals with high autistic traits.

scholarly journals Carving the Clock at Its Component Joints: Neural Bases for Interval Timing

2010 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine B. Wencil ◽  
H. Branch Coslett ◽  
Geoffrey K. Aguirre ◽  
Anjan Chatterjee
Keyword(s):  
Time Perception ◽  
Visual Stimulus ◽  
Neural Activity ◽  
Task Difficulty ◽  
Supplementary Motor Area ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Functional Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
The Subject

Models of time perception often describe an “internal clock” that involves at least two components: an accumulator and a comparator. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to test the hypothesis that distinct distributed neural networks mediate these components of time perception. Subjects performed a temporal discrimination task that began with a visual stimulus (S1) that varied parametrically in duration of presentation. A varying interstimulus interval was followed by a second visual stimulus (S2). After the S2 offset, the subject indicated whether S2 was longer or shorter than S1. We reasoned that neural activity that correlated with S1 duration would represent accumulator networks. We also reasoned that neural activity that correlated with the difficulty of comparisons for each paired-judgment would represent comparator networks. Using anatomically defined regions of interest, we found duration of S1 significantly correlated with left inferior frontal, supplementary motor area (SMA) and superior temporal regions. Furthermore, task difficulty correlated with activity within bilateral inferior frontal gyri. Therefore accumulator and comparator functioning of the internal clock are mediated by distinct as well as partially overlapping neural regions.

Sex Differences in Time Perception

1989 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Rammsayer ◽  
Sebastian Lustnauer
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Time Perception ◽  
Internal Clock ◽  
Auditory Stimuli ◽  
Session Time ◽  
Better Than

In an experiment on discrimination of duration of auditory stimuli in the range of milliseconds 16 men and 16 women were tested. Men scored better than women in discrimination of duration as well as in required session time. These results were discussed in terms of the assumption of a neurotransmitter-related internal clock and with respect to sex differences in reaction time.

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