Relative timing: from behaviour to neurons

Abstract

Processing of temporal information is critical to behaviour. Here, we review the phenomenology and mechanism of relative timing , ordinal comparisons between the timing of occurrence of events. Relative timing can be an implicit component of particular brain computations or can be an explicit, conscious judgement. Psychophysical measurements of explicit relative timing have revealed clues about the interaction of sensory signals in the brain as well as in the influence of internal states, such as attention, on those interactions. Evidence from human neurophysiological and functional imaging studies, neuropsychological examination in brain-lesioned patients, and temporary disruptive interventions such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), point to a role of the parietal cortex in relative timing. Relative timing has traditionally been modelled as a ‘race’ between competing neural signals. We propose an updated race process based on the integration of sensory evidence towards a decision threshold rather than simple signal propagation . The model suggests a general approach for identifying brain regions involved in relative timing, based on looking for trial-by-trial correlations between neural activity and temporal order judgements (TOJs). Finally, we show how the paradigm can be used to reveal signals related to TOJs in parietal cortex of monkeys trained in a TOJ task.

Functional consequences of experience‐dependent plasticity on tactile perception following perceptual learning

“…This need not be the case, as computational studies have demonstrated large RFs could convey information about timing of stimuli (Foffani et al ., ), and SI RF expansion occurs in concert as animals learn to discriminate the timing of non‐coincident stimuli across digits (Blake et al ., ). We do not know the neural mechanisms or cortical regions serving such temporal judgments, although it has been suggested that parietal cortex is involved in comparing the timing of two stimuli (Aghdaee et al ., ). Alternatively, it is likely that the general rules of TOBT, which require the identification of a stimulus’ temporal pattern on finger locations, transfer to the temporal discrimination task and explain enhancements in temporal processing of other tactile stimuli.…”

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves cognitive function of Alzheimer's disease patients

“…Recently, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation has been successfully applied in diverse neuropsychiatric disorders and diseases, particularly in AD, PD and some depression symptoms [ 13 , 15 , 16 ]. High-frequency rTMS (more than 5 Hz) has been reported to deliver its signal into left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [ 17 , 18 ]. However, low-frequency rTMS (less than 1 Hz) is able to control the activity of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex [ 19 , 20 ].…”

Temporal Discrimination: Mechanisms and Relevance to Adult-Onset Dystonia

“…Sub-second temporal processing of sensory information has been studied by several methodological approaches including temporal order judgment (TOJ), frequency discrimination task, time estimation tasks, and interval discrimination tasks ( 14 – 16 ). These various tasks differ from TDT in the neural circuits activated during the experimental procedure.…”