Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Study Explores How the Brain Measures Time | |
|
| |
 |  |  | Comments |  |
 |  |
 |
 |
 |  |
 |
 Text  |
Researchers have discovered a small population of neurons that is involved in measuring time. In the study, which is published October 30 in the open access journal PLOS Biology, the researchers developed a task in which monkeys could only rely on their internal sense of the passage of time. Their task design eliminated all external cues which could have served as "clocks".
The monkeys were trained to move their eyes consistently at regular time intervals without any external cues or immediate expectation of reward. Researchers found that despite the lack of sensory information, the monkeys were remarkably precise and consistent in their timed behaviors. This consistency could be explained by activity in a specific region of the brain called the lateral intraparietal area (LIP). Interestingly, the researchers found that LIP activity during their task was different from activity in previous studies that had failed to eliminate external cues or expectation of reward.
"In contrast to previous studies that observed a build-up of activity associated with the passage of time, we found that LIP activity decreased at a constant rate between timed movements," said lead researcher Geoffrey Ghose, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience at the University of Minnesota. "Importantly, the animals' timing varied after these neurons were more, or less, active. It's as if the activity of these neurons was serving as an internal hourglass."
By developing a model to help explain the differences in timing signals they see relative to previous studies, their study also suggests that there is no "central clock" in the brain that is relied upon for all tasks involving timing. Instead, it appears as though each of the brain's circuits responsible for different actions are capable of independently producing an accurate timing signal.
One important direction for future research is to explore how such precise timing signals arise as a consequence of practice and learning, and whether, when the signals are altered, there are clear effects on behavior.
Source-Eurekalert
| |
|
|
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
Brain - Facts
The brain is the most amazing and complex organ in this universe and has billions of nerve cells called as neurons. Medindia brings to you the top ...
Quiz on Brain
The human brain is exquisitely intrinsic and is the seat of all emotions. If you are curious about what makes you bad, sad, silly or glad this quiz ...
Brain Depression - Animation
Interactive section of Medindia provides information about chemistry of Brain ...
Brain Study Identifies Unique Protein Bond That Improves Learning and Memory
Researchers have found two proteins having a unique bond that enables brain receptors key to learning and memory to not only get and stay where ...
Research Related News
Parasite Study Shows Treating Infection may Have Sting in the Tail
A study in wild animals has shown that using drugs to treat an infection could allow other co-existing conditions to flourish. ...
Missing Enzyme Linked to Drug Addiction: Study
According to an animal study, a missing brain enzyme increases concentrations of a protein related to pain-killer addiction. The results will be ...
Study Finds That Obesity Leads to Brain Inflammation
A new study in mice finds that low testosterone worsens the harmful effects of obesity in the nervous system. The results will be presented Monday at ...
Study Finds Chemical in Antibacterial Soap Fed to Nursing Rats Harms Offspring
A new study in rats finds that a mother's exposure to triclocarban, a common antibacterial chemical, while nursing her babies shortens the life of ...
Doctors Able To Remove Suspicious Polyps, Keep Colon Intact With the Help Of New Alternative to Surgery
Millions of people each year have polyps successfully removed during colonoscopies. But when a suspicious polyp is bigger than a marble or in a ...
Patients With Central Nervous System Infections may Suffer More
In Vietnam and other locations, patients with central nervous system infections may well be suffering from the effects of a newly discovered virus. ...
Medwonders Health Network
- Health News Index
|
|
 | Quiz on Brain Feeling bad, sad, silly or glad? Find out what is responsible by taking part in our brain quiz. 
|
- News Quick Links
| News Categories: |
| » | Goa Forest Department Advisory Warns Eating Frogs Could Lead to Cancer |
| » | New Formula can Replace Fast Food as Healthy Option Claims US Man |
| » | Nourishing Foods You Must Eat Before and After Blood Donation |
| » | Mindful Eating is a Sure Shot Way to Good Health |
| » | Eating Mangoes may Reduce Cancer Risk |
| More Diet News | |
|
Ask an Expert
