Time Perception Mechanisms at Central Nervous System

Abstract

The five senses have specific ways to receive environmental information and lead to central nervous system. The perception of time is the sum of stimuli associated with cognitive processes and environmental changes. Thus, the perception of time requires a complex neural mechanism and may be changed by emotional state, level of attention, memory and diseases. Despite this knowledge, the neural mechanisms of time perception are not yet fully understood. The objective is to relate the mechanisms involved the neurofunctional aspects, theories, executive functions and pathologies that contribute the understanding of temporal perception. Articles form 1980 to 2015 were searched by using the key themes: neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, theories, time cells, memory, schizophrenia, depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and Parkinson's disease combined with the term perception of time. We evaluated 158 articles within the inclusion criteria for the purpose of the study. We conclude that research about the holdings of the frontal cortex, parietal, basal ganglia, cerebellum and hippocampus have provided advances in the understanding of the regions related to the perception of time. In neurological and psychiatric disorders, the understanding of time depends on the severity of the diseases and the type of tasks.

Keywords: Time perception; memory; psychiatric diseases; time cells.

Figure 1.

The central nervous system has a critical role in high hierarchy timing process and executive functions such as memory (freeimages.com/Adrian Boca), decision-making (picjumbo.com) and attention (freeimages.com/Steve Knight).

Figure 2.

The internal clock model is defined by three main components: a time processor (pacemaker); a switch; an (accumulator). The internal clock has been associated with sensorial stimulis receivers by SNC (pacemaker) which may either acumulation or not in long term memory. Finally, the internal clock theory show the decision making.

Figure 3.

Cortical and subcortical areas involved in the time perception cerebral mechanisms.