| 摘要: | 本實驗室的過往研究指出，處理數字和空間訊息的機制間有相當密切的關係，推論是由兩種歷程共有的「量（magnitude）表徵」所造成；由於此一表徵也可能支持時間向度的計算，因此本計畫提出在三年中進行八個行為實驗和四個電生理實驗，利用受試者在時間區辨和複製作業中的按鍵反應和腦電波資料，探討數量訊息是否影響我們對一數字呈現時間長短的主觀感覺。本計畫預計在第一年完成實驗一到四，確定受試者在時間處理之不同實驗派典中的表現，同時評估利用口語方式計時的策略是否也介入在作業中，以及如何可消除此一無關變項的影響，以做為後續實驗的比較基準。在第二年前半將完成實驗五和六，評估以CNV 此一ERP 成分來反映受試者心中主觀時間知覺的適切性。奠基於實驗一到六，本計畫將利用第二年後半到第三年的時間，深入探討和作業要求無關的數量訊息，是否影響受試者在時間區辨和複製作業中，對一秒以上和以下時間長度的主觀知覺（實驗七和九），以及此一效果是否和時間長度、口語干擾作業之介入間有交互作用（實驗八和十），並展現此一效果如何影響和主觀時間知覺具高相關的ERP 成分（實驗十一和十二）。本計畫預期觀察到小數量將壓縮心中覺知到的時間長度，而大數量將延展之；這些實驗的結果，將增進研究者對時間知覺之行為和生理機制的瞭解，以及數量訊息對其所造成的影響，更進而彰顯不同認知能力間緊密連結、甚至依賴相同歷程此一重要的大腦運作基本法則。 One of the cognitive abilities crucial to the survival of human beings is to represent and process magnitude information in different domains. Previous studies from my lab have provided evidence for an intimate correspondence between numerical and spatial representations (Hung, Hung, Tzeng, & Wu, 2008), especially with an action purpose in the task (Chiou, Chang, Tzeng, & Wu, 2009). These findings are consistent with the ATOM (a theory of magnitude) model (Walsh, 2003), in which a generalized magnitude code underlying the processing of quantity, space, and time is proposed. Following this theoretical framework, it is also hypothesized that the computation of numbers and time is supported by the common mechanism. To empirically verify this hypothesis, the currently proposed project aims to investigate whether task-irrelevant numerical magnitude modulates the subjectively perceived time duration of sub- and supra-second events in temporal discrimination and reproduction tasks. Specifically, eight behavioral and four electrophysiological experiments are proposed in a three-year period. Through Experiment 1 to 4, which are conducted in the first year, the methods and trial parameters of time discrimination and time reproduction are validated, and the variability of participants’ performance is evaluated to determine the optimal procedures for the following experiments. Moreover, the results from Experiment 2 and 4 will inform us whether verbal counting strategies are involved in the temporal tasks and whether articulatory suppression would remove the contamination from such confounds. In the first half of the second year, we plan to conduct Experiment 5 and 6 to replicate the electrophysiological findings from previous literature that the amplitude of an ERP component, namely, CNV, reflects subjective time perception in the time discrimination and reproduction tasks. Based on the results from Experiment 1 to 6, we propose to conduct Experiment 7 to 12 in the second half of the second year and the third year to directly address whether task-irrelevant numerical magnitude embedded in a digit modulates the subjectively perceived duration of the digit. Specifically, Experiment 7 and 9 examine such an effect on the perception of sub- and supra-second durations in the time discrimination and reproduction tasks, respectively. Experiment 8 and 10 will further verify whether such an effect interacts with verbal counting strategies and duration lengths, and whether such interaction will be removed with simultaneously articulatory suppression. Experiment 11 and 12 will apply ERP recordings to explore whether the effect from numerical magnitude can be reflected in neural signals associated with subjective temporal perception. We expect to observe that small and large numerical magnitude compresses and stretches the subjectively perceived time duration, respectively, and the amplitude of the CNV component is affected by the numerical magnitude accordingly. In summary, the findings from the proposed project will greatly improve our knowledge of behavioral characteristics and neural mechanisms of temporal processing and their interactions with numerical information. This project will also provide evidence for a common magnitude code underlying the representation of time, numbers, and space, which is consistent with the fundamental operation of a highly dynamic and interactive brain. 研究期間：10008 ~ 10107 |
