IDENTIFYING NONLINEAR PROCESSES IN TIME ESTIMATION

该项目的长期目标是确定时间知觉的认知机制。本提案的具体目的是确定多巴胺能和胆碱能调节时间估计的药理学机制，并确定时间非线性的来源（时钟或记忆）。这些目标的基本原理是，如果不确定时间的非线性过程的来源，就不可能提供对时间感知的完整理解。这项研究的中心假设是，非线性的来源可以通过使用独立评估时钟和记忆过程的行为和药理学操作来确定。将使用多种选择性激动剂和拮抗剂确定药理学特异性。为了考察非线性过程，有必要考察许多紧密间隔的区间条件。生物钟和记忆机制的非线性将通过检查药理学操作下非线性的潜在变化来分离。总体结果将是一个精确的陈述，其中的时间组成部分是非线性的。这一结果预计将产生重大影响的领域，因为主要的时间知觉理论被发现的线性，而不是非线性的时间。理解非线性现象如何影响时间感知将首次触手可及。理解时间机制是必要的，因为时间涉及行为的许多方面。识别非线性时间加工的机制预计将对该领域产生重大影响，因为时间知觉的主要理论都是建立在线性而不是非线性计时的基础上。

The long-term objective of the project is to identify the cognitive mechanisms of time perception. The specific aims of this proposal are to identify the pharmacological mechanisms of dopaminergic and cholinergic modulation of time estimation and to identify the source (clock or memory) of non-linearities in timing. The rationale underlying these aims is that, without identify the source of non-linear processes in timing, it is not possible to provide a complete understanding of time perception. The central hypothesis of the proposed research is that the source of non-linearities may be identified by using behavioral and pharmacological manipulations that independently evaluate clock and memory processes. Pharmacological specificity will be established using multiple selective agonists and antagonists. To examine non-linear processes, it is necessary to examine many, closely spaced interval conditions. Non-linearities in clock and memory mechanisms will be dissociated by examining potential shifts in non-linearities under pharmacological manipulations. The overall outcome will be a precise statement of which timing component is non-linear. This result is expected to have a significant impact on the field because major theories of time perception were found on linear rather than non-linear timing. Understanding how non-linear phenomena affect time perception would be within reach for the first time. It is necessary to understand timing mechanisms because timing is involved in many aspects of behavior. Identifying the mechanisms of non-linear temporal processing is expected to have a significant impact on the field because major theories of time perception were founded on liner rather than non-linear timing.