A trace theory of time perception.

Abstract

Many comparisons involve sequentially presented stimuli, as perforce the case in comparisons of temporal intervals. Interactions of such stimuli are as inevitable as the spatial interactions that yield color and brightness contrast. A memory-trace theory of perception (TToP) is developed and applied to time perception. Duration is estimated based on the memorial strength of the stimuli that signal the initiation of an interval at the time of its termination. Memorial persistence depends on modality and character of the signals, which condition the response to them. When the constant difference limen on the memorial continuum is back-translated to the temporal one it yields a generalized Weber function. Memory traces interact as a function of generalization gradients: Memories of stimuli that are similar enough are aggregated—feature-bound—some veridically, others as illusory conjunctions. The resulting representations may then be judged in a discrimination paradigm, or translated back to the physical domain as reproductions of the intervals. The presentation of a standard stimulus affects the perception of the comparison stimulus, warping the ruler by which it is measured. Complementary effects are predicted for discrimination and adjustment paradigms. Thus configured, the TToP accounts for multiple special effects, variously referred to as distortions, anomalies, and illusions, that are observed with classical psychophysical methods: Scalar and nonscalar timing, modality effects, time-order errors, masking, time warping, lengthening, and Vierordt’s law. Similar processes affect the perception of nontemporal stimuli whenever they are presented in sequential proximity to one another.

Trace Theory of Perception for Temporal Bisection

“…These are different for auditory and visual stimuli, so BPs will shift depending on which is input and which output. This is treated at some length in Killeen and Grondin (2022), who show it is the reason that auditory stimuli are reported as longer than visual ones (see their Fig. 8).…”

“…Brown and associates offered a 'temporal range-frequency' model resonant with both TToP (Killeen & Grondin, 2022) and the range-frequency model of 6) to the geometric mean (GM) plotted against the observed ratio of BP to GM. The data from over 100 experiments were aggregated by Kopec and Brody (2010).…”

“…1. This equivalent but simpler formulation than that of Killeen and Grondin (2022) was suggested by Armando Machado and an anonymous reviewer. 2.…”

Variations on a theme by Rachlin: Probability discounting

“…These have been explained (or at least rationalized) by sensory systems' approximately logarithmic encoding of the to‐be‐judged stimuli, for which there is evidence. Dehaene (Dehaene, 2011; Feigenson et al, 2004), and many others (e.g., Killeen & Grondin, 2022; Moyer, 1973; Walsh, 2003) have suggested that the central comparison continuum is concave, probably logarithmic, for which there is evidence in the coding of magnitude in the prefrontal cortex (Miller et al, 2009; Nieder & Miller, 2003). Inputs and outputs, when scaled by a multiplicative constant in projecting onto that logarithmic axis, generate power function relations among variables (MacKay, 1963).…”

The Internal Process of Time Deviation in Anxious State

“…In fact, research on memory and retrospective timing faces a critical challenge. That is, how to test the role of memory directly allocated to timing [38]. Our study attempted to solve this difficult problem by measuring the memory bias of anxious individuals directly.…”