Voluntary action and causality in temporal binding

Author(s)

Cravo, Andre M. ^[1] ; Claessens, Peter M. E. ^{[1, 2]} ; Baldo, Marcus V. C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Physiol & Biophys, Inst Biomed Sci, BR-05508900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Fed Univ ABC, Ctr Math Computat & Cognit, Cognit & Complex Syst Unit, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Experimental Brain Research; v. 199, n. 1, p. 95-99, OCT 2009.
• Web of Science Citations: 43

Abstract

Previous studies have documented temporal attraction in perceived times of actions and their effects. While some authors argue that voluntary action is a necessary condition for this phenomenon, others claim that the causal relationship between action and effect is the crucial ingredient. In the present study, we investigate voluntary action and causality as the necessary and sufficient conditions for temporal binding. We used a variation of the launching effect proposed by Michotte, in which participants controlled the launch stimulus in some blocks. Volunteers reported causality ratings and estimated the interval between the two events. Our results show dissociations between causality ratings and temporal estimation. While causality ratings are not affected by voluntary action, temporal bindings were only found in the presence of both voluntary action and high causality. Our results indicate that voluntary action and causality are both necessary for the emergence of temporal binding. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/50189-9 - Spatiotemporal dynamics of attention: formalization and flash-lag phenomena
• Grantee: Peter Maurice Erna Claessens
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral