Time is of the essence.
Timing is essential to human behaviour, but the neural mechanisms underlying time perception are still unclear. New findings from a brain-imaging study by Coull et al. show that activity in a network of motor-related areas varies parametrically with attention to time. Given that a system in which timing is important (but not the primary function) is recruited when temporal judgements are required, we should perhaps reassess the notion of a dedicated timing system in the brain.
Nobre
Anna Christina
AC
Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. kia.nobre@psy.ox.ac.uk
O'Reilly
Jill
J
D002531:Cerebellum / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000502:physiology; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000502:physiology*; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*