title: Interval timing in mice does not rely upon the circadian pacemaker.
abstract: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is a precise timekeeper that controls and synchronizes the circadian period of countless physiological and behavioural functions and entrains them to the 24 h light/dark cycle. We examined the possibility that it is also indirectly involved in measurement of a briefer interval by observing the effects of lesions targeted at the SCN, and abolishing circadian rhythmicity, upon interval timing behaviour. Fourteen house mice (Mus musculus) were trained to estimate a 10 s interval using a modified peak procedure, and then underwent electrolytic lesions. Six individuals became behaviourally arrhythmic. Peak interval performance was then assessed in 12:12 light/dark conditions and in constant darkness. No significant change in peak characteristics was observed as a consequence of the lesion for either rhythmic or arrhythmic groups. These results show that the accurate measurement of 10 s requires neither a functioning circadian pacemaker nor entrained behavioural rhythmicity.
authors.affiliation: University Laboratory of Physiology, Parks Road, OX1 3PT, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Miall
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kacelnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology*; D003624:Darkness; D008029:Lighting / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013997:Time Factors