- Neural Activity and Time Perception: Research reveals how neural activity influences our perception of time, shedding light on how the brain measures time beyond circadian rhythms. Artificially altered neural activity in rats distorts their sense of time duration, providing a causal link between the brain’s clockwork and behavior.
- Striatum’s Role in Time-related Decisions: The study identifies the striatum as a critical brain region correlated with timing decisions. Manipulating neural dynamics in the striatum through temperature experiments affects the speed at which neural activity evolves, impacting the rats’ judgment of time intervals. However, this manipulation does not alter their movement kinematics.
- Implications for Understanding Behavior Control: The findings suggest that the striatum plays a key role in determining “what” and “when” regarding actions, while other brain structures handle the ongoing control of movement. This division of labor between brain systems has implications for movement disorders like Parkinson’s and cerebellar ataxia.
Supplemental Information ℹ️
This groundbreaking research explores the connection between neural activity and time perception, highlighting the role of the striatum in timing decisions. By manipulating neural dynamics using temperature, the study provides insights into the brain’s inner clockwork. It opens avenues for further understanding behavior control and developing therapeutic targets for time-related disorders.
ELI5 💁
Scientists made rats’ brains experience time differently by changing their neural activity. They found that a specific brain region called the striatum is important for deciding “what” to do and “when,” while other brain parts control how we move. This helps us understand how our brain measures time and could lead to new treatments for diseases like Parkinson’s.
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