Modifying temporal expectations: Changing cortical responsivity to delayed self-initiated sensations with training

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Sensory Processing

Background:

• The perceptual system predicts the timing of self-initiated sensations to reduce their intensity.
• Subnormal sensory attenuation is a characteristic of schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if temporal expectations of self-generated sensations can be modified through behavioral training.
• To examine the neural correlates of altered temporal expectations using electroencephalography (EEG).

Main Methods:

• Fifty participants completed a button-press-for-tone task.
• Participants received training with either immediate or 100ms delayed tones.
• Event-related potentials (ERPs), specifically N1 amplitude, were measured using EEG.

Main Results:

• Pre-training, N1 amplitude was larger for delayed tones compared to immediate tones.
• Training to immediate tones preserved this N1 amplitude difference.
• Training to delayed tones eliminated the N1 amplitude difference between immediate and delayed tones.

Conclusions:

• Behavioral training can effectively modify neural expectations regarding the timing of self-generated sensations.
• These findings suggest potential interventions for sensory processing deficits in schizophrenia.