Temporal constraints on binding? Evidence from quantal state transitions in perception

Abstract

Do behavioural observations on the transitions between alternative perceptual interpretations of stimuli carry information about temporal characteristics of brain activity involved in binding? Promising methods for capturing critical attributes of this activity are the psychophysical methods of parameter adjustment. Of particular value are situations that include an adjustment of periodically repeating components, since the interaction of these with periodic “carrier processes” in the brain may produce informative patterns of interference. Previous evidence reveals that in different paradigms the spectral time signatures of transition tune in to a superordinate structure of quantal time values. In agreement with predictions of the taxonomic “time quantum model” (TQM), quantal time values are organized in groups called ranges which cover intervals of discretely varying sizes. These findings suggest properties characteristic of oscillatory mechanisms which are active in temporal binding. Of critical importance is the extreme precision of timing, agreement of critical periods across individuals, as well as across tasks of varying complexity, and indications of single-shot timing.