A Possible Link between Supra-Second Open-Ended Timing Sensitivity and Obsessive-Compulsive Tendencies

Abstract

One of the main characteristics of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is the persistent feeling of uncertainty, affecting many domains of actions and feelings. It was recently hypothesized that OCD uncertainty is related to attenuated access to internal states. As supra-second timing is associated with bodily and interoceptive awareness, we examined whether supra-second timing would be associated with OC tendencies. We measured supra-second (~9 s) and sub-second (~450 ms) timing along with control non-temporal perceptual tasks in a group of 60 university students. Supra-second timing was measured either with fixed criterion tasks requiring to temporally discriminate between two predefined fixed interval durations (9 vs. 9.9 s), or with an open-ended task requiring to discriminate between 9 s and longer intervals which were of varying durations that were not a priori known to the participants. The open-ended task employed an adaptive Bayesian procedure that efficiently estimated the duration difference required to discriminate 9 s from longer intervals. We also assessed symptoms of OCD, depression, and anxiety. Open-ended supra-second temporal sensitivity was correlated with OC tendencies, as predicted (even after controlling for depression and anxiety), whereas the other tasks were not. Higher OC tendencies were associated with lower timing sensitivity to 9 s intervals such that participants with higher OC tendency scores required longer interval differences to discriminate 9 s from longer intervals. While these results need to be substantiated in future research, they suggest that open-ended timing tasks, as those encountered in real-life (e.g., estimating how long it would take to complete a task), might be adversely affected in OCD.

Rhythmic temporal prediction enhances neural representations of movement intention for brain–computer interface

“…Previous studies on time perception have reported that intervals shorter than 1000 ms tend to be automatic processes [49], which do not require significant cognitive resources when participants are familiar with the rhythm. However, as the interval becomes longer, more mental processes [50,51], such as attention and working memory would come into work, occupying additional cognitive resources. Accordingly, this study employed two kinds of time intervals, 1000 ms and 1500 ms.…”

Sub- and Supra-Second Timing in Auditory Perception: Evidence for Cross-Domain Relationships

“…The majority of studies on cross-domain comparisons focus on processing physical standards of defined durations in the sub-second range (typically up to 1 s, sometimes even up to 2 s) and the supra-second range (typically above a few seconds). These studies indicate a dissociation between these two timescales, suggesting the involvement of different neuronal processes in these two domains which are controlled by different mechanisms (e.g., Lewis and Miall, 2003a , b ; Ulbrich et al, 2007 ; Morillon et al, 2009 ; Bangert et al, 2011 ; Gilaie-Dotan et al, 2011 , 2016 ). Specifically, the sub-second range is assumed to be associated with motor and sensory processes and is known as “automatic timing.” In contrast, the supra-second range, known as “cognitive timing,” is associated more with cognitive mechanisms allowing the perception of accumulating durations.…”