Learning the timing of rapidly changing sensory events is crucial to construct a reliable representation of the environment and to efficiently control behavior. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the learning of time are unknown. We used functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neurophysiological changes and individual brain differences underlying the learning of time in the millisecond range. We found that the representation of a trained visual temporal interval was associated with functional and structural changes in a sensory-motor network including occipital, parietal, and insular cortices, plus the cerebellum. We show that both types of neurophysiological changes correlated with changes of performance accuracy and that activity and gray-matter volume of sensorimotor cortices predicted individual learning abilities. These findings represent neurophysiological evidence of functional and structural plasticity associated with the learning of time in humans and highlight the role of sensory-motor circuits in the perceptual representation of time in the millisecond range.

Learning about time: plastic changes and interindividual brain differences / Bueti, Domenica; Lasaponara, Stefano; Cercignani, Mara; Macaluso, Emiliano. - In: NEURON. - ISSN 0896-6273. - 75:4(2012), pp. 725-737. [10.1016/j.neuron.2012.07.019]

Learning about time: plastic changes and interindividual brain differences

Lasaponara, Stefano;
2012

Abstract

Learning the timing of rapidly changing sensory events is crucial to construct a reliable representation of the environment and to efficiently control behavior. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the learning of time are unknown. We used functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neurophysiological changes and individual brain differences underlying the learning of time in the millisecond range. We found that the representation of a trained visual temporal interval was associated with functional and structural changes in a sensory-motor network including occipital, parietal, and insular cortices, plus the cerebellum. We show that both types of neurophysiological changes correlated with changes of performance accuracy and that activity and gray-matter volume of sensorimotor cortices predicted individual learning abilities. These findings represent neurophysiological evidence of functional and structural plasticity associated with the learning of time in humans and highlight the role of sensory-motor circuits in the perceptual representation of time in the millisecond range.
2012
acoustic stimulation; adult; anisotropy; brain; discrimination (psychology); female; humans; image processing, computer-assisted; learning; magnetic resonance imaging; male; neuropsychological tests; oxygen; photic stimulation; psychophysics; time factors; time perception; young adult; brain mapping; individuality
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Learning about time: plastic changes and interindividual brain differences / Bueti, Domenica; Lasaponara, Stefano; Cercignani, Mara; Macaluso, Emiliano. - In: NEURON. - ISSN 0896-6273. - 75:4(2012), pp. 725-737. [10.1016/j.neuron.2012.07.019]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Bueti_Learning_2012.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione editoriale (versione pubblicata con il layout dell'editore)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 1.09 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.09 MB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1275499
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 29
  • Scopus 63
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 60
social impact