An integrative approach to finding the neural basis of timing. (360G-Wellcome-085474_Z_08_Z)

£250,000

I recently developed, with Maneesh Sahani, a theoretical framework for time representation that naturally reproduces the classical scalar and Weber laws of timing, and is the first theory to account for the influence of certain stimulus attributes on human timing judgements (e.g. Kanai et al., 2006). First, I aim to explain a wider range of human behaviour by extending this framework. I will test its new predictions psychophysically. Next, I will study the representation of time using electrophy siology, building on anatomical work that is currently being carried out by Pai and Brody (personal communication) with the goal of identifying brain regions in the rat that are necessary for duration discrimination. I will make multi-unit extracellular recordings from the identified brain regions in behaving animals, under controlled stimulus conditions. My goal will be to find circuit-level correlates of time representation and timing mechanisms. After this, I will develop neural network model s of timing mechanism (e.g. by extending work by Karmarkar and Buonomano, 2007), based on the electrophysiological experimental data and our functional framework, and link them to human behaviour by incorporating sensory input into the network models. Thus, I plan to generate a comprehensive framework for neural time representation.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 250000
Applicant Surname Ahrens
Approval Committee Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowships Interview Committee
Award Date 2008-05-28T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2007/08
Grant Programme: Title Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship
Internal ID 085474/Z/08/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Misha Ahrens
Partnership Value 250000
Planned Dates: End Date 2012-11-19T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2009-03-20T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region East of England
Sponsor(s) Dr David Eagleman, Prof Daniel Wolpert, Prof Zoubin Ghahramani