Abstract
Virtual reality (VR) provides a valuable research tool for studying what occurs when sensorimotor feedback loops are manipulated. Here we measured whether exposure to a novel temporal relationship between action and sensory reaction in VR causes recalibration of time perception. We asked 31 participants to perform time perception tasks where the interval of a moving probe was reproduced using continuous or discrete motor methods. These time perception tasks were completed pre- and post-exposure to dynamic VR content in a block-counterbalanced order. One group of participants experienced a standard VR task (“normal-time”), while another group had their real-world movements coupled to the flow of time in the virtual space (“movement contingent time-flow; MCTF”). We expected this novel action-perception relationship to affect continuous motor time perception performance, but not discrete motor time perception. The results indicated duration-dependent recalibration specific to a motor task involving continuous movement such that the probe intervals were under-estimated by approximately 15% following exposure to VR with the MCTF manipulation. Control tasks in VR and non-VR settings produced similar results to those of the normal-time VR group, confirming the specificity of the MCTF manipulation. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential impact of VR on sensorimotor recalibration. Understanding this process will be valuable for the development and implementation of rehabilitation practices.
Highlights
The ability to estimate the passage of time with precision is fundamental to our ability to perceive and interact with the world
The data from one participant were excluded from further analysis due to a non-significant correlation (p > 0.05), and data from two additional participants were excluded due to errors with data recording
The results revealed significant effects of the manipulation we introduced in Virtual reality (VR)
Summary
The ability to estimate the passage of time with precision is fundamental to our ability to perceive and interact with the world. Basal ganglia activity is associated with the encoding of temporal processing and representation of stimulus duration, which is demonstrated by both the behavioural data of Parkinson’s patients with basal ganglia dysfunction[31] and by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies[24,32,33,34] These neuroanatomical studies in conjunction with non-human pharmacological studies have supported the idea that timekeeping is modulated by dopamine neurotransmission, at the D2 receptor[16,35,36]. Neurophysiology studies provide insight into the neural mechanism of the internal clock, but they support the idea that time perception can be manipulated The speed of this internal clock can be increased or decreased depending on the drug administered, which can lead to behavioural changes[38,41]. Evidence shows that motor reproduction of interval timing is affected by click trains, suggesting that a common temporal oscillator may underlie both conscious time perception and motor performance[14,15]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
