Visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination depend on modality-specific, sensory-automatic temporal processing: Converging evidence for the validity of the Sensory-Automatic Timing Hypothesis

2018 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 2364-2377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Rammsayer ◽  
Stefan Pichelmann
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Duration Discrimination ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Interval Duration ◽  
Specific Input ◽  
Timing System ◽  
Timing Hypothesis

The Sensory-Automatic Timing Hypothesis assumes visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination to originate from sensory-automatic temporal processing. Although temporal discrimination of extremely brief intervals in the range of tens-of-milliseconds is predicted to depend mainly on modality-specific, sensory-automatic temporal processing, duration discrimination of longer intervals is predicted to require more and more amodal, higher order cognitive resources and decreasing input from the sensory-automatic timing system with increasing interval duration. In two duration discrimination experiments with sensory modality as a within- and a between-subjects variable, respectively, we tested two decisive predictions derived from the Sensory-Automatic Timing Hypothesis: (1) visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination were expected to be larger for brief intervals in the tens-of-milliseconds range than for longer ones, and (2) visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination of longer intervals should disappear when statistically controlled for modality-specific input from the sensory-automatic timing system. In both experiments, visual-auditory differences in duration discrimination were larger for the brief than for the longer intervals. Furthermore, visual-auditory differences observed with longer intervals disappeared when statistically controlled for modality-specific input from the sensory-automatic timing system. Thus, our findings clearly confirmed the validity of the Sensory-Automatic Timing Hypothesis.

Advances in Measurement and Cognition

2019 ◽  
Vol 683 (1) ◽  
pp. 164-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Mislevy
Keyword(s):  
Human Activity ◽  
Educational Assessment ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Cognitive Resources ◽  
Analytic Methods ◽  
Diverse Student Populations ◽  
Diverse Student ◽  
Digital Environments

Situative, sociocognitive (SC) psychology is forcing a reconception of educational assessment. The SC perspective emphasizes the interplay between across-person linguistic, cultural, and substantive patterns that human activity is organized around and within-person cognitive resources that individuals develop to participate in activities. Rather than seeing assessment primarily as measurement, we are increasingly seeing it as an evidentiary argument, situated in social contexts, shaped by purposes, and centered on students’ developing capabilities for valued activities. Developments in technology and analytic methods support new practices and familiar practices as reconceived. Implications follow for current challenges such as assessing higher-order skills, performance in digital environments, and diverse student populations.

scholarly journals One second is not a special time

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklenin Sierra ◽  
David Poeppel ◽  
Alessandro Tavano
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Sampling Rate ◽  
Duration Discrimination ◽  
Temporal Information ◽  
Temporal Information Processing ◽  
Visual Events ◽  
The One ◽  
Timing Hypothesis ◽  
Special Time ◽  
Perceived Duration

The Distinct Timing Hypothesis (DTH) proposes that two different neuronal computations underlie temporal information processing below and above one second. We tested DTH predictions by varying the interval between two visual events (S and C) from 400 to 2000 ms. To verify whether attentive encoding processes play a role, we deployed three durations for S (120, 160, and 200 ms), which map to attentive sampling frequencies of 8.33, 6.25, and 5 Hz. The one-second divide does not modulate sensory precision in duration discrimination, while it determines whether participants will dilate/compress perceived S duration. However, all distortion effects disappear when S is extended to 200 ms, suggesting that a sampling rate of 5 Hz optimizes subjective decisions. Since the effects of the one-second divide on perceived duration are not hardwired, a single computational mechanism may underlie both sub-second and supra-second temporal scales for behavior, in flexible interaction with attentive encoding processes.

scholarly journals Temporal Encoding: Relative and absolute representations of time guide behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Başak Akdoğan ◽  
Amita Wanar ◽  
Benjamin Kyle Gersten ◽  
Charles Randy Gallistel ◽  
Peter Balsam
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Duration Discrimination ◽  
Temporal Distance ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Discrimination Ability ◽  
Extensive Training ◽  
Discrimination Procedure ◽  
Directed Action ◽  
Temporal Encoding ◽  
Relational Control

Temporal information-processing is critical for adaptive behavior and goal-directed action. It is thus crucial to understand how the temporal distance between behaviorally relevant events is encoded to guide behavior. However, research on temporal representations has yielded mixed findings as to whether organisms utilize relative versus absolute judgments of time intervals. To address this fundamental question about the timing mechanism, we tested mice in a duration discrimination procedure in which they learned to correctly categorize tones of different durations as short or long. After being trained on a pair of target intervals the mice transferred to conditions in which cue durations and corresponding response locations were systematically manipulated. Specifically, responses and/or durations of cues were switched in different experimental phases so that either the relative or absolute mapping remained constant. The findings indicate that the transfer occurred most readily when relative relationships of durations and response locations were preserved. In contrast, when the animals had to re-map these relative relations, their temporal discrimination ability was impaired, and they required extensive training to re-establish temporal control. However, preserving the response location of one of the cue durations in such conditions was found to help with initial transfer. These results demonstrate that mice can represent experienced durations both as having a certain magnitude (absolute representation) and as being shorter or longer of the two durations (an ordinal relation to other cue durations), with relational control having a greater influence in temporal discriminations.

scholarly journals Age-Dependent Auditory Processing Deficits after Cochlear Synaptopathy Depend on Auditory Nerve Latency and the Ability of the Brain to Recruit LTP/BDNF

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 710
Author(s):  
Philine Marchetta ◽  
Daria Savitska ◽  
Angelika Kübler ◽  
Giulia Asola ◽  
Marie Manthey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Auditory Nerve ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Nerve Fibers ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Age Dependent ◽  
Processing Deficits ◽  
Neural Gain

Age-related decoupling of auditory nerve fibers from hair cells (cochlear synaptopathy) has been linked to temporal processing deficits and impaired speech recognition performance. The link between both is elusive. We have previously demonstrated that cochlear synaptopathy, if centrally compensated through enhanced input/output function (neural gain), can prevent age-dependent temporal discrimination loss. It was also found that central neural gain after acoustic trauma was linked to hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Using middle-aged and old BDNF-live-exon-visualization (BLEV) reporter mice we analyzed the specific recruitment of LTP and the activity-dependent usage of Bdnf exon-IV and -VI promoters relative to cochlear synaptopathy and central (temporal) processing. For both groups, specimens with higher or lower ability to centrally compensate diminished auditory nerve activity were found. Strikingly, low compensating mouse groups differed from high compensators by prolonged auditory nerve latency. Moreover, low compensators exhibited attenuated responses to amplitude-modulated tones, and a reduction of hippocampal LTP and Bdnf transcript levels in comparison to high compensators. These results suggest that latency of auditory nerve processing, recruitment of hippocampal LTP, and Bdnf transcription, are key factors for age-dependent auditory processing deficits, rather than cochlear synaptopathy or aging per se.

scholarly journals Temporal Perception and Attention in Trained Musicians

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-312
Author(s):  
Jonas Vibell ◽  
Ahnate Lim ◽  
Scott Sinnett
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Visual Modality ◽  
Temporal Acuity ◽  
Music Training ◽  
Attentional Processes ◽  
Perceptual Skills ◽  
Sensory Modalities ◽  
Processing Information

Considerable evidence converges on the plasticity of attention and the possibility that it can be modulated through regular training. Music training, for instance, has been correlated with modulations of early perceptual and attentional processes. However, the extent to which music training can modulate mechanisms involved in processing information (i.e., perception and attention) is still widely unknown, particularly between sensory modalities. If training in one sensory modality can lead to concomitant enhancements in different sensory modalities, then this could be taken as evidence of a supramodal attentional system. Additionally, if trained musicians exhibit improved perceptual skills outside of the domain of music, this could be taken as evidence for the notion of far-transfer, where training in one domain can lead to improvements in another. To investigate this further, we evaluated the effects of music training using tasks designed to measure simultaneity perception and temporal acuity, and how these are influenced by music training in auditory, visual, and audio-visual conditions. Trained musicians showed significant enhancements for simultaneity perception in the visual modality, as well as generally improved temporal acuity, although not in all conditions. Visual cues directing attention influenced simultaneity perception for musicians for visual discrimination and temporal accuracy in auditory discrimination, suggesting that musicians have selective enhancements in temporal discrimination, arguably due to increased attentional efficiency when compared to nonmusicians. Implications for theory and future training studies are discussed.

Temporal Processing Abilities across Different Age Groups

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (01) ◽  
pp. 005-012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajith Kumar U ◽  
A.V. Sangamanatha
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Duration Discrimination ◽  
Elderly Persons ◽  
Research Subjects ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Fourth Decade ◽  
Processing Abilities ◽  
Effects Of Aging

Background: Psychophysical evidence indicates age-related decline over a broad range of auditory abilities. Thus, age-related deterioration in temporal processing abilities also may be expected. At issue is whether the various dimensions of temporal processing decline at the same or at different rates across age. Purpose: To determine whether various temporal processes decline with aging and whether some are more resistant to the effects of aging than others. Study Sample: A total of 176 subjects in the age range from 20 to 85 yr participated in this research. Subjects were divided into six cross-sectional age groups. There were 30 subjects per age decade up to 70 yr and 26 subjects in the age group >70 yr. Data Collection and Analysis: Temporal processing was evaluated using gap detection, duration discrimination, modulation detection, and duration pattern. Results: Individuals in the 20–30 and 30–40 yr groups performed significantly better in all the psychoacoustic measures in comparison to other age groups. Deterioration in temporal processing began after the fourth decade of life. Deterioration accelerated after 70 yr of age. Conclusions: There is a systematic, age-related decline in temporal processing starting from the fourth decade of life. The deficits in temporal processing observed in the present study may be related in part to the difficulties that elderly persons encounter in noisy listening situations.

Temporal Information Processing and Psychopathology

1975 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Crain ◽  
Sanford Goldstone ◽  
William T. Lhamon
Keyword(s):  
Information Processing ◽  
Information Transmission ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Temporal Discrimination ◽  
Temporal Information ◽  
The Other ◽  
Organic Group ◽  
Temporal Information Processing ◽  
Neurologic Impairment ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients

Prior studies showed impaired temporal discrimination by schizophrenic and neurologic patients reflected in decreased information transmission. This report describes a study of 8 more carefully diagnosed schizophrenic patients, separating those with neurologic signs. Using temporal discrimination tasks involving two psychophysical methods, 8 schizophrenic patients with no organic signs did not differ from 17 nonpsychotic, nonorganic patients; an organic group ( n = 5) transmitted less information than the other patient samples. It is suggested that prior results were a product of casual diagnosis that ignored organic factors; reduced efficiency of temporal processing is associated predominantly with neurologic impairment.

Temporal Factors and Speech Recognition Performance in Young and Elderly Listeners

1993 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1276-1285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Gordon-Salant ◽  
Peter J. Fitzgibbons
Keyword(s):  
Speech Recognition ◽  
Temporal Processing ◽  
Recognition Performance ◽  
Duration Discrimination ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Auditory Temporal Processing ◽  
Percent Correct ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Processing Abilities

This study investigated factors that contribute to deficits of elderly listeners in recognizing speech that is degraded by temporal waveform distortion. Young and elderly listeners with normal hearing sensitivity and with mild-to-moderate, sloping sensorineural hearing losses were evaluated. Low-predictability (LP) sentences from the Revised Speech Perception in Noise test (R-SPIN) (Bilger, Nuetzel, Rabinowitz, & Rzeczkowski, 1984) were presented to subjects in undistorted form and in three forms of distortion: time compression, reverberation, and interruption. Percent-correct recognition scores indicated that age and hearing impairment contributed independently to deficits in recognizing all forms of temporally distorted speech. In addition, subjects’ auditory temporal processing abilities were assessed on duration discrimination and gap detection tasks. Canonical correlation procedures showed that some of the suprathreshold temporal processing measures, especially gap duration discrimination, contributed to the ability to recognize reverberant speech. The overall conclusion is that age-related factors other than peripheral hearing loss contribute to diminished speech recognition performance of elderly listeners.

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