title: Sex-related differences in time estimation and the role of expectancy.
abstract: In this study, using auditory sequences, the authors designed an examination with three phases of stimulus-driven attention that is based on the possibility that involuntarily time shifts of attention are caused by nonunique stimulus properties. The purpose was to investigate whether attending and temporal expectancies are influenced by stimulus's properties and by sex. In each phase, an auditory stimulus train was presented, and the participant was asked to tap rhythmically in order to anticipate every fifth stimulus (or, in the third phase, the lack of it). The time between button pressing and stimulus onset was measured using a computer. Time estimation was accepted as a false response if the subject responded before 150 ms or 150 ms later from onset stimulus time. Error numbers were greater in Phase 3 and there was no significant difference between the male and female subjects for any of the phases when error numbers were compared. On the other hand, males pressed the button more accurately than females. Time estimation performance was affected by sex and expectancy-related motor responses are very important for time estimation.
authors.affiliation: University of Erciyes, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology,Kayseri, Turkey. nazandolu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Nazan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dolu
authors.forename: Asuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golgeli
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suer
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ascioglu
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozesmi
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012691:Serial Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*