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Temporal binding refers to the subjective compression of the temporal interval between a voluntary action and its external sensory consequences. While empirical evidence and theoretical accounts have indicated the potential linkage between temporal binding and action outcome prediction mechanisms, several questions regarding the underlying processes and the fundamental nature of temporal binding remain unanswered. Based on the sophisticated classification of predictive processes proposed by Hughes et al. (2013), we conducted a systematic, quantitative review of the binding effect as measured with two representative procedures, i.e., Libet clock procedure and interval estimation procedure. Although both procedures were designed to measure the same phenomenon, we revealed a larger effect size and higher sensitivity to perceptual moderators in binding observed with the clock procedure than with the interval estimation. Moreover, in the former, we observed different characteristics for the two perceptual shifts that comprise temporal binding. Action shifts depended more on whether one can control outcome onsets with voluntary actions. In contrast, outcome shifts depended more on the degree to which participants could predict, rather than control, the action outcome onset. These results indicate that action shift occurs based on the activation of learned action–outcome associations by planning and executing actions, while outcome shift occurs based on comparing predicted and observed outcomes. By understanding the nature of each experimental procedure and each shift, future research can use optimal methods depending on the goal. We discuss, as an example, the implications for the underlying disorders of agency in schizophrenia.

Dibenzoboroles with emission from the bond-cleavage-induced ICT was reported.

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is widely shown to have considerable advantages in photovoltaic cells, including excellent electrical performance, but its fragility remains a challenge for material applications and processing of stretchable devices. Herein, high‐molecular‐weight and highly regioregular poly(3‐substituted thiophene) with disiloxane moieties in the side chains (P3SiT) is synthesized. An investigation of the molecular structure and physical properties of self‐supported cast films of P3SiT reveals excellent flexible mechanical properties derived from the disiloxane groups in the side chains. The larger fracture strain reaches over 200% compared with that of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (14%). In addition, its Young's modulus (43 MPa) and low glass transition temperature (−10 °C) result in a typical elastic mechanical property. For the electrical property, the sheet resistivity of the drawn thiophene polymer shows the value almost equal to that of poly(3‐hexylthiophene). The anisotropy of electrical resistivity is observed due to orientation of the drawn polymer.

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We have developed a near-field optical probe that uses a triangular metallic plate with a three-dimensionally tapered apex as a light source for thermally assisted magnetic recording. Numerical analysis using a finite-element method shows that the size of the optical spot generated at the apex is 15 nm x 20 nm, and the efficiency (defined as the ratio between the power of the optical near field at the surface of the recording medium and that of the incident light) is 15% when the incident light is focused by a lens with a numerical aperture of 0.8. The metallic plate was fabricated on the surface of a quartz slider and used for writing marks on a phase change recording medium. The marks were observed with a scanning electron microscope, and we confirmed that marks with a diameter of 40 nm were successfully written on the medium.