From Duration and Distance Comparisons to Goal Encoding in Prefrontal Cortex

摘要: Timing is a very abstract representation that shares with other magnitudes, such as numerosity, the peculiarity of being independent from any particular sensory modality. Not only we can time stimuli in different modalities but also compare durations visual, auditory and somatosensory stimuli. Furthermore, even though not directly associated space, are inclined to consider space two perceptual dimensions our existence, an increasing number studies challenge this idea by showing timing spatial processing have some relationship involves sharing computation resources may representation. A more general theory, called theory magnitude (ATOM), considers both computations, together originating system [Walsh VA, Trends Cogn Sci 7(11):483–8, 2003]. The neural underpinnings its information started be investigated recently, field rapidly growing. It addressing several cortical subcortical brain areas. Information strictly specialized cognitive mechanisms believe studying them separately restrict understanding these processes. In chapter, will firstly introduce role prefrontal cortex (PF) coding relative durations. We point out comparison makes use intermediate computations based on order events. Secondly, describe implemented PF make decisions about relation those involved making locations distances. distinguish decision processes goal choices, examine which computational shared between magnitudes domain-specific. summarize results within context function promoting generation goals current context, consisting domain- modality-specific or magnitudes.