Scientists from the Laboratory of Education at the Sumpalimo Research Center have made a breakthrough in manipulating the perception of time by monitoring the neural activity of rats. This development has potential applications in the treatment of diseases like Parkinson’s and Gentington’s, as well as in the fields of robotics and algorithm training.
In a recent study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, researchers artificially manipulated the neural activity of rats to distort their perception of time. By slowing down or accelerating the activity, the scientists were able to influence the rats’ judgment on the duration of time. This provides strong evidence of the brain’s “internal watch” and its impact on behavior.
According to Joe Paton, the senior author of the study, the brain supports a decentralized and flexible perception of time, similar to a stone being thrown into a pond. The stone creates waves that ripple outwards, allowing us to determine when and where it was thrown. This dynamic is similar to the neural networks distributed throughout the brain that contribute to our perception of time.
To establish a causal relationship, the researchers used temperature as a tool. They developed a thermoelectric device to heat or cool specific areas of the rats’ brains while recording neural activity. As a result of these temperature changes, the rats began to perceive the same time intervals as either shorter or longer. For example, heating the striatum, a brain region, accelerated its dynamics and led the rats to perceive the time interval as longer.
This study indicates that the striatum plays a crucial role in determining the “what” and “when” of actions, while other brain structures handle the “how” of movement control.
The implications of this research are significant. It could potentially lead to the development of new therapies for diseases like Parkinson’s and Gentington’s. Additionally, the findings may have an impact on the algorithms used in robotics and training.