Abstract
Time perception is a complex system which involves a number of brain areas, such as cerebellum, basal ganglia, prefrontal or parietal cortex. All of these different parts of the brain support different aspects of time perception.
One of the fundamental questions is: how can we measure the perception of time? In neuropsychological research of time perception, the explicit and implicit measurement of time perception differs. In both cases, the accuracy and consistency of time interval estimates are measured in different sensory modalities and lengths of time intervals.
In implicit methods it is not obvious at first glance that it is a measure of perception of time. These methods include for example, tasks aimed at keeping tempo or rhythm, in the visual mode it is above all the precise timing of the motor act.
Explicit methods of measuring perception of time are based on a conscious cognitive assessment of time. Tasks can be prospective or retrospective.
In both cases, verbal estimation methods (verbal expression of time interval) and interval reproduction (reproduction of the length of a certain interval) can be used. Other methods for measuring time perception, such as interval production and discriminatory methods (bisection and time generalization), can only be used in prospective studies.
The production method involves the input in time units (seconds or minutes) and participants's task is to produce this interval, for example by knocking or pressing the button for the time required. Discrimination methods are tasks based on comparing two time intervals.
Usually, this is a direct comparison between pairs of stimuli, so judgment may include deciding which of the two stimuli lengths presented is longer, shorter, or whether they have the same duration. Most prospective paradigm studies concentrate on processing very short intervals (lasting a few seconds), while most retrospective research generally deals with much longer intervals.
Current research is primarily concerned with a prospective estimate. Future research should be based in neuropsychology, especially focusing on work memory, attention or decisionmaking.
The results of such research would help to clarify the processes and factors involved in the time perception.