[P1] Poster: Day 1

[P1-10] Effects of voluntary actions on temporal preparation in different temporal contexts: an ongoing study.

*Alexandre de Pontes Nobre¹, André Mascioli Cravo¹ (1. Center for Mathematics, Computing and Cognition, Federal University of ABC. (Brazil))

Keywords:

Temporal preparation,Voluntary actions,Foreperiod,Temporal learning

Temporal preparation is shaped by the temporal context of preparatory intervals (foreperiods), as reflected in differences in the slopes of foreperiod durations × reaction time (RT) curves under distinct distributions of foreperiod durations. Recently, it has been shown that initiating foreperiods with voluntary actions influences temporal preparation. In this study, we investigate whether the effect of actions on preparation is related to differences in how foreperiod distributions are learned when intervals are self-initiated. We are conducting a choice-RT experiment using a variable foreperiod design. Participants indicate the orientation of a Gabor presented after a foreperiod of 0.6, 1.2, or 1.8 s. Participants are assigned to one of two conditions. In the action condition, foreperiods are initiated with a voluntary keypress. In the external condition, they are initiated automatically after a random interval. Across eight blocks, we manipulate the distributions of foreperiods. In the uniform distribution, all three foreperiod durations occur with equal frequency; in the exponential distribution, frequency decreases with duration; in the flipped exponential distribution, frequency increases with duration. Exponential and flipped exponential blocks are intermixed with uniform blocks. To examine whether the effect of actions on temporal preparation is related to the temporal context of foreperiods, we will compare slopes of RT curves between conditions for each distribution. Additionally, to investigate if actions influence learning of different distributions across blocks, we will compare transfer effects — operationalized as the slopes of RT curves in uniform blocks preceded by exponential blocks compared to uniform blocks preceded by flipped exponential blocks — between conditions. The results will contribute to the understanding of how voluntary actions influence timing and temporal preparation.