Long-interval timing is based on a self-sustaining endogenous oscillator.
The mechanism of anticipating long-intervals (16-21 h) was investigated. Rats earned food by interrupting a photobeam in a food trough during 3- or 4-h meals. Intermeal intervals were 16, 21, and 24 h (offset to offset) for independent groups of rats (n=8 per group). After approximately a month of experience with the intermeal intervals, the meals were discontinued. The rate of visiting the food trough increased as a function of time before the meal. When meals were discontinued, visits continued to be periodic. The periodicity was approximately 21 h after 16- and 21-h intermeal intervals and approximately 28 h after 24-h intermeal intervals. These data suggest that long-interval timing is based on a self-sustaining, endogenous oscillator.
Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA. jcrystal@uga.edu
Jonathon D
JD
Crystal
D000818:Animals; D001070:Appetitive Behavior; D001683:Biological Clocks; D004193:Discrimination Learning; D005108:Extinction, Psychological; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012055:Reinforcement Schedule; D013998:Time Perception