Abstract
Subjects performed a repetitive manual tapping task, attempting to match a given rate of auditory stimulus pulses, first with the pulses audible (synchronization) and then with the pulses turned off (continuation). In different sessions, the interstimulus interval (ISI) was selected from the range 175 to 825 msec in steps of 25 msec, with different ISI values presented in a random order. Across this range of ISI conditions, interresponse intervals (IRIs) exhibited alternating positive bias (too slow) and negative bias (too fast). We interpret this pattern of bias in terms of a discrete, or categorical, timing mechanism in motor timing. Categorical time production can be viewed as extending our conception of the timekeeper in Wing’s (Wing’ & Kristofferson, 1973a, 1973b) two-process model of motor timing and may be related to the system of multiple clocks proposed by Kristofferson (1980) to explain a categorical pattern of variability measures in duration discrimination.
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Preparation of this article was aided by Grant NSS2-S07-RR07086-14 to the University of Rhode Island from the National Center for Research Resources. The experiment reported here was presented at the 31st Annual Meeting of the Psychonomic Society, New Orleans, November 1990.
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Collyer, C.E., Broadbent, H.A. & Church, R.M. Categorical time production: Evidence for discrete timing in motor control. Perception & Psychophysics 51, 134–144 (1992). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212238
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212238