Temporal reproduction: further evidence for two processes.
Some authors have suggested separate mechanisms for the processing of temporal intervals above versus below 2-3s. Given that the evidence is mixed, the present experiment was carried out as a critical test of the separate-mechanism hypothesis. Subjects reproduced five standard durations of 1-5s presented in the auditory and visual modalities. The Corsi-block test was used to assess effects of working-memory span on different interval lengths. Greater working-memory span was associated with longer reproductions of intervals of 3-5s. A factor analysis run on mean reproduced intervals revealed one modality-unspecific factor for durations of 1-2s and two modality-specific factors for longer intervals. These results are interpreted as further indications that two different processes underlie temporal reproductions of shorter and longer intervals.
Ulbrich
Pamela
P
Generation Research Program, Human Science Centre, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Prof.-Max-Lange-Platz 11, 83646 Bad Toelz, Germany. mail@grp.hwz.uni-muenchen.de
Churan
Jan
J
Fink
Martina
M
Wittmann
Marc
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000502:physiology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000502:physiology*; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013998:Time Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology