The timing database: An open-access, live repository for interval timing studies

Abstract

Interval timing refers to the ability to perceive and remember intervals in the seconds to minutes range. Our contemporary understanding of interval timing is derived from relatively small-scale, isolated studies that investigate a limited range of intervals with a small sample size, usually based on a single task. Consequently, the conclusions drawn from individual studies are not readily generalizable to other tasks, conditions, and task parameters. The current paper presents a live database that presents raw data from interval timing studies (currently composed of 68 datasets from eight different tasks incorporating various interval and temporal order judgments) with an online graphical user interface to easily select, compile, and download the data organized in a standard format. The Timing Database aims to promote and cultivate key and novel analyses of our timing ability by making published and future datasets accessible as open-source resources for the entire research community. In the current paper, we showcase the use of the database by testing various core ideas based on data compiled across studies (i.e., temporal accuracy, scalar property, location of the point of subjective equality, malleability of timing precision). The Timing Database will serve as the repository for interval timing studies through the submission of new datasets.

The use of eye movement corpora in vocabulary research

“…A collection of small data sets is interesting for secondary analysis because it includes more variation than is typically possible in a single study (Strand & Brown, 2023). With a little discipline, we can build a nice database in a few years, with additional data being added every few days (see Aydoğan et al, 2023, for an example of such an endeavour in another field). Ideally, the field agrees on a uniform format so that new information can be easily integrated and analysed.…”

Core clock gene, Bmal1 , is required for optimal second-level interval production

“…In addition, recent research suggests that the trajectory pattern of neuronal activation plays a role in governing timing at the sub-second to minute level (Tsao et al 2022 ; Paton and Buonoman 2018 ). This impacts various brain functions, including adaptive anticipation, motor control, and social communication (Mioni et al 2021 ; Warda and Khan 2022 ; Aydoğan et al 2023 ). While these timing systems operate through distinct mechanisms, the circadian rhythm can influence the performance of the second-level timing system.…”

Editorial: Advances in Shannon-based communications and computations approaches to understanding information processing in the brain

“…How might such computational representation precisions translate into modulational representation precisions? The open-access Timing Database (Aydogan et al, 2023 ), consisting of 68 datasets from eight different tasks, may be a helpful resource for a deeper exploration into these representation questions.…”