Identification of an Age Maturity in Time Discrimination Abilities

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify the age at which parameters of timing performance in a temporal bisection task converge on an adult-like stable level. Participants in the three- to 20-year-old range were tested using a temporal bisection task with sub-second and supra-second durations. The data were divided into two samples. In the first sample, all participants were integrated into the analysis regardless of their success. In the second sample, only performers were inserted. The point of subjective equality (PSE) and the Weber Ratio (WR) were analyzed for each participant in each sample. By fitting a mathematical model to these parameters as a function of age, we showed a large inter-individual variability in the PSE, such that it does not stabilize with increasing age, i.e., during the significant period of development. Interestingly, time sensitivity (WR) shows a similar pattern through the two samples as adult-like performance appeared at an earlier age for short than for long durations. For the first sample, the modeling of WR data suggests that the children reached an adult-like time sensitivity at the age of six years for the short durations and 8½ years for the long durations. For the second sample, the developmental curve was stable at about the same age for the long duration (seven years), and at earlier age for the short durations, i.e., before three years.

Simultaneous time processing in children and adults: When attention predicts temporal interference effects

“…switch system would be more variable and slower in younger children, an idea which seems to be supported by recent modelling of temporal estimates in childhood (Hallez & Droit-Volet, 2020). Since switching needs more time in children than in adults, we can assume that any switching-related effect would be greater in children than in adults in a multi-timing task with a series of onset and offset signals.…”

Towards a Neurodevelopmental Cognitive Perspective of Temporal Processing

“…Enhanced inhibitory abilities with development also results in lower impulsivity and fewer tendency to press too early in temporal reproduction task and to endure the temporal wait 147 . Despite a clear improvement compared to toddlers, it is only by nine years of age that children achieve adult-like performances in supra-second duration estimations 148 .…”

The Development of Space-Time Interferences in the child’s mind: Memory capacities as the core mechanism of interference

“…Firstly, development over the course of this age range exhibit signi cant heterogeneity in terms of cognitive capacity, allowing for a more comprehensive examination of the in uence of individual cognitive abilities. Secondly, explicit time perception reaches a level of maturity during this age range, making it feasible to conduct tasks involving time reproductions [33,34].…”