Counting in a time discrimination task in children and adults.
Behavioural processes, 71 (2-3):
164--171 (February 2006)Abstract
The present study investigated in 5- and 8-year-olds, as well as in
adults, the effect of verbal counting on temporal discrimination
behavior in a generalization task with two duration ranges in order
to test the scalar timing property. The results showed that counting
improved temporal sensitivity in all age groups, although sensitivity
to time remained lower in the younger children. Furthermore, in the
5-year-olds, the temporal generalization behavior conformed well
to the scalar property of variance both in the counting and the non-counting
condition. However, this conformity to the scalar timing property
disappeared when counting was used in the 8-year-olds and the adults.
The development of the ability to count time at a constant rhythm
is discussed as the major reason for this departure of temporal behavior
from the scalar property of variance when counting is employed.