TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of low-level, event-related dc-currents during time estimation in humans
AU - Elbert, Thomas
AU - Rockstroh, Brigitte
AU - Lutzenberger, Werner
AU - Birbaumer, Niels
PY - 1981
Y1 - 1981
N2 - Two experiments were designed to investigate further the influence of low-level transcephalic DC currents on human reaction time and time perception. Thirty-two subjects participated in the experiments, with the second one a replication of the first. During a first trial series, subjects responded to the offset of a 6 second tone. Simultaneous to tone presentation a current was applied between vertex and collar bone electrodes. Current polarity varied randomly across trials. During a second trial series, subjects interrupted tone and current when they estimated a time interval of same length as the previously experienced had elapsed. In both studies subjects interrupted the tone/current after a shorter interval when the negative pole was applied as compared to vertex-positive trials. Results suggest that a vertex-negative external current suppresses an internally required state, whereas an external positive current supports internal SP-generation. The brain may tend to terminate the former state earlier than the latter.
AB - Two experiments were designed to investigate further the influence of low-level transcephalic DC currents on human reaction time and time perception. Thirty-two subjects participated in the experiments, with the second one a replication of the first. During a first trial series, subjects responded to the offset of a 6 second tone. Simultaneous to tone presentation a current was applied between vertex and collar bone electrodes. Current polarity varied randomly across trials. During a second trial series, subjects interrupted tone and current when they estimated a time interval of same length as the previously experienced had elapsed. In both studies subjects interrupted the tone/current after a shorter interval when the negative pole was applied as compared to vertex-positive trials. Results suggest that a vertex-negative external current suppresses an internally required state, whereas an external positive current supports internal SP-generation. The brain may tend to terminate the former state earlier than the latter.
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U2 - 10.3109/00207458108985850
DO - 10.3109/00207458108985850
M3 - Article
C2 - 7287324
AN - SCOPUS:0019442146
VL - 15
SP - 103
EP - 106
JO - International Journal of Neuroscience
JF - International Journal of Neuroscience
SN - 0020-7454
IS - 1-2
ER -