Presentation Information
[S1-01]Time and Rhythm in the Mammalian Brain
*Sonja A Kotz1, Teresa Raimondi2 (1. Maastricht University (Netherlands), 2. Sapienza University of Rome (Italy))
Keywords:
Time,Rhythm,Synchronization,Oscillation,Evolution
Time and rhythm, the structured recurrence of events in time, orchestrate multiple functions in animal and human life, from oscillations in physiology, to gait patterning and social interaction. Despite their central role, the biological roots and evolution of time and rhythmicity remain only partially understood. This symposium will illuminate time and rhythm's multifaceted nature through an integrative, comparative framework, bridging proximate mechanisms and evolutionary explanations.
A central premise is that time and rhythm are not unitary phenomena but units of dissociable behavioral and neural modules. A comparative approach can dissect time and rhythm into components and trace their presence across taxa. Identifying homologies and analogies in temporal and rhythmic behavior allows reconstruction of their phylogenetic history and evolutionary significance.
However, isolated top-down (neurobiological) and bottom-up approaches have limitations. Top-down approaches identify brain modules enabling time and rhythm but are often ecologically limited and invasive. Bottom-up approaches detail observable output and ecological relevance but are a "black box" regarding proximate evolutionary causes, challenging phylogenetic tracing.
A central premise is that time and rhythm are not unitary phenomena but units of dissociable behavioral and neural modules. A comparative approach can dissect time and rhythm into components and trace their presence across taxa. Identifying homologies and analogies in temporal and rhythmic behavior allows reconstruction of their phylogenetic history and evolutionary significance.
However, isolated top-down (neurobiological) and bottom-up approaches have limitations. Top-down approaches identify brain modules enabling time and rhythm but are often ecologically limited and invasive. Bottom-up approaches detail observable output and ecological relevance but are a "black box" regarding proximate evolutionary causes, challenging phylogenetic tracing.