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Neuron. 2009 Jul 30;63(2):254-66.

Feature- and order-based timing representations in the frontal cortex.

Genovesio A, Tsujimoto S, Wise SP.

Laboratory of Systems Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. aldo.genovesio@uniroma1.it

Comment in:

We examined activity in the frontal cortex as monkeys performed a duration-discrimination task. Two stimuli, one red and the other blue, appeared sequentially on a video screen--in either order. Later, both stimuli reappeared, and to receive a reward the monkeys had to choose the stimulus that had lasted longer during its initial presentation. Some neurons encoded stimulus duration, but a larger number of cells represented their relative duration, which was encoded in three ways: whether the first or second stimulus had lasted longer; whether the red or blue stimulus had lasted longer; or, less commonly, as the difference between the two durations. As the monkeys' choice approached, the signal encoding which stimulus (red or blue) had lasted longer increased as the order-based signal dissipated. By representing stimulus durations and relative durations--both bound to stimulus features and event order--the frontal cortex could contribute to both temporal perception and episodic memory.

PMID: 19640483 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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