Interval timing in mice does not rely upon the circadian pacemaker

Lewis, Penelope A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1793-3520, Miall, R. C., Daan, S. and Kacelnik, A. 2003. Interval timing in mice does not rely upon the circadian pacemaker. Neuroscience Letters 348 (3) , pp. 131-134. 10.1016/S0304-3940(03)00521-4

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Abstract

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus is a precise timekeeper that controls and synchronizes the circadian period of countless physiological and behavioural functions and entrains them to the 24 h light/dark cycle. We examined the possibility that it is also indirectly involved in measurement of a briefer interval by observing the effects of lesions targeted at the SCN, and abolishing circadian rhythmicity, upon interval timing behaviour. Fourteen house mice (Mus musculus) were trained to estimate a 10 s interval using a modified peak procedure, and then underwent electrolytic lesions. Six individuals became behaviourally arrhythmic. Peak interval performance was then assessed in 12:12 light/dark conditions and in constant darkness. No significant change in peak characteristics was observed as a consequence of the lesion for either rhythmic or arrhythmic groups. These results show that the accurate measurement of 10 s requires neither a functioning circadian pacemaker nor entrained behavioural rhythmicity.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology Cardiff University Brain Research Imaging Centre (CUBRIC)
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Circadian rhythms; Peak procedure; Interval timing; Suprachiasmatic nucleus; Operant conditioning; Time perception
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0304-3940
Date of Acceptance:	28 April 2003
Last Modified:	31 Oct 2022 10:56
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/86763

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