ERPs and PET analysis of time perception: Spatial and temporal brain mapping during visual discrimination tasks

Abstract

ERPs were recorded from 12 subjects performing duration and intensity visual discrimination tasks which have been previously used in a PET study. PET data showed that the same network was activated in both tasks [P. Maquet et al., NeuroImage 3:119-126, 1996]. Different ERP waveforms were observed for the late latency components depending on the dimension of the stimulus to be processed: frontal negativity (CNV) for the duration task and parieto-occipital positivity (P300) for the intensity task. Using BESA software, the sources were first modelled with a "PET dipolar model" (right prefrontal, right parietal, anterior cingulate, left and right fusiforms). To obtain a better fit for ERPs recorded in each task, two sources (cuneus, left prefrontal area) had to be added. Consistently with PET findings, dipole modelling indicates that duration and intensity dimensions of a visual stimulus are processed in the same areas. However, ERPs also reveal prominent differences between the time course of the dipole activations for each task, particularly for sources contributing to the late latency ERP components. In the intensity task, dipoles located in the cuneus, the anterior cingulate, and the left prefrontal area yield largest activity within the P300 interval, then activity diminishes rapidly as the stimulus ends, whereas in the duration task, the cuneus and anterior cingulate are still active several hundred milliseconds following stimulus offset. Moreover, in the duration task, the activity of the right frontal dipole parallels the CNV waveform, whereas in the intensity task, this dipole is largely inactive. We assume that the right frontal area plays a specific role in the formation of temporal judgments.

Temporally selective attention modulates early perceptual processing: Event-related potential evidence

“…This negativity is similar in distribution and amplitude to what has been described elsewhere (e.g., Macar & Vidal, 2004;Pouthas, Garnero, Ferrandez, & Renault, 2000;Roth, Ford, Lewis, & Kopell, 1976;Ruchkin, McCalley, & Glaser, 1977) as the contingent negative variation (CNV). Bendixen, Grimm, and Schröger (2006) pointed out that the CNV has been hypothesized to be composed of at least four distinct negativities: an early wave associated with warning signals; an anterior and central negativity related to motor programming; a stimulus preceding negativity that is largest over more posterior regions; and a timing component that, like the negativity related to motor programming, is largest at anterior and central electrodes.…”

The Functional Neuroanatomy of Temporal Discrimination

“…Several imaging studies have shown participation of the SMA in other timing tasks such as visual or auditory rhythm discrimination (Schubotz et al, 2000) and duration discrimination (Pouthas et al, 2000;Rao et al, 2001;Ferrandez et al, 2003). This is close to but not coincident with the main area of activation during our temporal discrimination task, which was more anterior in the pre-SMA.…”

Effects of temporal trial-by-trial cuing on early and late stages of auditory processing: Evidence from event-related potentials

“…This slow potential shift might belong to the CNV family (e.g., Walter, Winter, Cooper, McCallum, & Aldridge, 1964). Among the processes that have been discussed to contribute to the CNVare the anticipation of a stimulus (e.g., Walter et al, 1964), the timing of the interval (e.g., Elbert, Ulrich, Rockstroh, & Lutzenberger, 1991;Macar & Besson, 1985;McAdam, 1967;Pouthas, Garnero, Ferrandez, & Renault, 2000;Ruchkin, McCalley, & Glaser, 1977; for a review, see Pouthas, 2003), and the preparation of a (motor) response (e.g., Birbaumer, Elbert, Canavan, & Rockstroh, 1990). Similar potential drifts following the cue have been reported in earlier temporal-orienting studies (Correa et al, 2006;Griffin et al, 2002;Lange et al, 2003;Miniussi et al, 1999;Sanders & Astheimer, 2008).…”