TIME OUT: THE EFFECTS OF BREAKS ON TEMPORAL REPRODUCTION

by Borawski, Steven

Two experiments investigated the effects of breaks on temporal reproduction. Participants were trained using a peak-interval procedure. A break of varying duration was inserted at different locations within the target interval. The first experiment used a standard break paradigm: filled target interval and empty break. The second experiment used a reversed break paradigm: empty target interval and a filled break. Research by Buhusi and Meck (2000) suggests that standard breaks produce a stopping of the internal clock during the break in the stimulus, whereas reversed breaks may trigger a resetting. Contrary to Buhusi and Meck, participants showed a stop response pattern in both the standard and reverse break paradigms. A significant effect of break location and duration was observed in both experiments. Breaks occurring late in the target duration caused a longer produced interval compared to early breaks. Also, short breaks caused longer produced interval then did long breaks.