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Temporal rate is not a distinct perceptual metric.
Motala, Aysha; Heron, James; McGraw, Paul V; Roach, Neil W; Whitaker, David.
Affiliation
  • Motala A; School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK. amotala2@uwo.ca.
  • Heron J; Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. amotala2@uwo.ca.
  • McGraw PV; Bradford School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, BD7 1DP, UK.
  • Roach NW; Visual Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
  • Whitaker D; Visual Neuroscience Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
Sci Rep ; 10(1): 8654, 2020 05 26.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32457383
ABSTRACT
Sensory adaptation experiments have revealed the existence of 'rate after-effects' - adapting to a relatively fast rate makes an intermediate test rate feel slow, and adapting to a slow rate makes the same moderate test rate feel fast. The present work aims to deconstruct the concept of rate and clarify how exactly the brain processes a regular sequence of sensory signals. We ask whether rate forms a distinct perceptual metric, or whether it is simply the perceptual aggregate of the intervals between its component signals. Subjects were exposed to auditory or visual temporal rates (a 'slow' rate of 1.5 Hz and a 'fast' rate of 6 Hz), before being tested with single unfilled intervals of varying durations. Results show adapting to a given rate strongly influences the perceived duration of a single empty interval. This effect is robust across both interval reproduction and duration discrimination judgments. These findings challenge our understanding of rate perception. Specifically, they suggest that contrary to some previous assertions, the perception of sequence rate is strongly influenced by the perception of the sequence's component duration intervals.

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2020 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Reino Unido

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Language: En Journal: Sci Rep Year: 2020 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Reino Unido