Year: 2014
Type: article
Abstract: Cognitive processes, such as decision making, rate calcu-lation and planning, are strongly affected by the ability of subjects to perceive durations in the seconds-to-hours range (interval timing) [1]. A classic interval tim-ing paradigm is the peak interval (PI) procedure which consists of interspersed reinforced and probe trials. Dur-ing the reinforced trials, a stimulus such as a tone or light is turned on to signal the beginning of the to-be-timed interval and the subject’s first response after the criterion time is reinforced. During the probe trials, no reinforcement is given and the stimulus remains on for about three times the criterion time [2]. The mean response rate over a very large number of trials has a Gaussian shape whose peak measures the accuracy of criterion time estimation and the spread of the timing function measures its precision. In the vast majority of species, protocols, and manipulations to date, interval timing is both accurate and time-scale invariant, i.e. time-estimation errors increase linearly with the esti-mated duration [3]. We used a computational model of interval timing that mimics the activity of cortico-striatal structures involved in interval timing known as striatal beat frequency (SBF) model (Figure 1) [4]. In mammals, administration of DA agonist, e.g., methamphetamine or cocaine produce an immediate, scalar (proportional), leftward shift in perceived time (responding earlier in time than under control conditions) whereas DA antagonist, e.g., haloperidol, has an opposed effect. Upon
Source: BMC Neuroscience
Institutions: College of Charleston, Utah State University
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,990
Funder: National Science Foundation
OpenAlex ID: W2110881531