Electrophysiological Evidence of Auditory Temporal Perception Related to the Assimilation Between Two Neighboring Time Intervals

• DOI: 10.14704/nq.2009.7.1.213
• Publication Date: 2014-01-15T13:00:56Z
• Authors: Takako Mitsudo; Yoshitaka Nakajima; Gerard B Remijn; Hiroshige Takeichi; Yoshinobu Goto; Shozo Tobimatsu
• Keywords: Stimulus (psychology); Time perception; Contingent negative variation; Tone burst

We conducted two event-related potential (ERP) experiments that examined the mechanisms of auditory temporal assimilation. Stimulus patterns consisted neighboring time intervals marked by three successive tone bursts (20 ms, 1000 Hz). Six stimuli were used in which first interval (T1) varied from 100 to 280 while second (T2) was fixed at 200 ms. Two other different T1/T2 combinations employed. Participants judged whether T1 and T2 had same duration or not pressing a button. ERPs recorded 11 electrodes over scalp. Behavioral data showed symmetrical assimilation; participants as equal when difference between (T1-T2) -40 +40 Electrophysiological ERP components (P300 CNV) emerged related judgment. The P300 appeared parietal area 400 ms after 2nd burst, its amplitude decreased function T1. CNV component frontal during presentation, increased In Experiment 2, stimulus presented. seven stimuli, 80 320 19 this experiment, behavioral asymmetrical T1-T2 -80 Consistent with results 1, electrophysiological T2. addition, slow negative (SNCt) right prefrontal 3rd continued up about stimuli. magnitude smaller assimilation occurred. These signatures seem correlate process (a) augmentation, could be participants' attention 1st reflect monitoring passage time, (b) area, might have accompanied memorizing lengths intervals, (c) SNCt reduction Our spatiotemporal characteristics cortical processing short may assist neurophysiological understanding illusions perception general.