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Probing Interval Timing with Scalp-Recorded Electroencephalography (EEG)

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Book cover Neurobiology of Interval Timing

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 829))

Abstract

Humans, and other animals, are able to easily learn the durations of events and the temporal relationships among them in spite of the absence of a dedicated sensory organ for time. This chapter summarizes the investigation of timing and time perception using scalp-recorded electroencephalography (EEG), a non-invasive technique that measures brain electrical potentials on a millisecond time scale. Over the past several decades, much has been learned about interval timing through the examination of the characteristic features of averaged EEG signals (i.e., event-related potentials, ERPs) elicited in timing paradigms. For example, the mismatch negativity (MMN) and omission potential (OP) have been used to study implicit and explicit timing, respectively, the P300 has been used to investigate temporal memory updating, and the contingent negative variation (CNV) has been used as an index of temporal decision making. In sum, EEG measures provide biomarkers of temporal processing that allow researchers to probe the cognitive and neural substrates underlying time perception.

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  1. Department of Psychology and LSI Programme in Neurobiology/Ageing, National University of Singapore, 9 Arts Link, Singapore, 117570, Singapore

    Kwun Kei Ng & Trevor B. Penney

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  2. Trevor B. Penney
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  1. Campus Juriquilla, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Querétaro, Mexico

    Hugo Merchant

  2. Campus Juriquilla, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Queretaro, Querétaro, Mexico

    Victor de Lafuente

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Ng, K.K., Penney, T.B. (2014). Probing Interval Timing with Scalp-Recorded Electroencephalography (EEG). In: Merchant, H., de Lafuente, V. (eds) Neurobiology of Interval Timing. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 829. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-1782-2_11

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