Lewis, Penelope A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1793-3520, Miall, R. C., Daan, S. and Kacelnik, A.
2003.
Interval timing in mice does not rely upon the circadian pacemaker.
Neuroscience Letters
348
(3)
, pp. 131-134.
10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00521-4
|
Abstract
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is a precise timekeeper that controls and synchronizes the circadian period of countless physiological and behavioural functions and entrains them to the 24 h light/dark cycle. We examined the possibility that it is also indirectly involved in measurement of a briefer interval by observing the effects of lesions targeted at the SCN, and abolishing circadian rhythmicity, upon interval timing behaviour. Fourteen house mice (Mus musculus) were trained to estimate a 10 s interval using a modified peak procedure, and then underwent electrolytic lesions. Six individuals became behaviourally arrhythmic. Peak interval performance was then assessed in 12:12 light/dark conditions and in constant darkness. No significant change in peak characteristics was observed as a consequence of the lesion for either rhythmic or arrhythmic groups. These results show that the accurate measurement of 10 s requires neither a functioning circadian pacemaker nor entrained behavioural rhythmicity.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Psychology Research Institutes & Centres > Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC) |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Circadian rhythms; Peak procedure; Interval timing; Suprachiasmatic nucleus; Operant conditioning; Time perception |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0304-3940 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 28 April 2003 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Oct 2022 10:56 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/86763 |
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