Systematic nonlinearities in the perception of temporal intervals

Journal/Book: J Exp Psychol Anim Behav Proc. 1999; 25: 750 First St NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242, USA. Amer Psychological Assoc. 3-17.

Abstract: Rats judged time intervals in a choice procedure in which accuracy was maintained at approximately 75% correct. Sensitivity to time (d') was approximately constant for short durations 2.0-32.0 s with 1.0- or 2.0-s spacing between intervals (n = 5 in each group, Experiment 1), 2.0-50.0 s with 2.0-s spacing (n = 2, Experiment 1), and 0.1-2.0 s with 0.1- or 0.2-s spacing (n = 6 in each group, Experiment 2). However, systematic departures from average sensitivity were observed, with local maxima in sensitivity at approximately 0.3, 1.2, 10.0, 24.0, and 36.0 s. Such systematic departures from an approximately constant d' are predicted by a connectionist theory of time with multiple oscillators and may require a modification of the Linear timing hypothesis of scalar timing theory.

Note: Article Crystal JD, Coll William & Mary, Dept Psychol, POB 8795, Williamsburg,VA 23187 USA

Keyword(s): TIME; DURATION; PIGEONS; MEMORY; BISECTION; REPRESENTATION; DISCRIMINATION

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