A tRNS investigation of the sensory representation of time

Abstract

The understanding of the mechanisms underlying the representation of temporal intervals in the range of milliseconds/seconds remains a complex issue. Different brain areas have been identified as critical in temporal processing. The activation of specific areas is depending on temporal range involved in the tasks and on the modalities used for marking time. Here, for the first time, transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) was applied over the right posterior parietal (P4) and right frontal (F4) cortex to investigate their role in intra- and intermodal temporal processing involving brief temporal intervals (<1 sec). Eighty University students performed a time bisection task involving standard durations lasting 300 ms (short) and 900 ms (long). Each empty interval to be judged was marked by two successive brief visual (V) or auditory (A) signals defining four conditions: VV, VA, AV or AA. Participants were assigned to one of these four conditions. Half of the participants received tRNS over P4 and half over F4. No effect of stimulation was observed on temporal variability (Weber ratio). However, participants that were stimulated over P4 overestimated temporal intervals in the random condition compared to the sham condition. In addition to showing an effect of tRNS on perceived duration rather than on temporal variability, the results of the present study confirm that the right posterior parietal cortex is involved in the processing of time intervals and extend this finding to several sensory modality conditions.