Dynamic changes of timing precision in timed actions during a behavioural task in guinea pigs

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 10; no. 1; p. 20079
• Main Authors: Nishimura, Masataka, Wang, Chi, Shu, Reika, Song, Wen-Jie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 18.11.2020; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/1647/2198; 631/378/2649/1310; 631/378/2649/1409; 631/443; Accuracy; Animal behavior; Animal models; Animals; Behavior, Animal - physiology; Brain - physiology; Discrimination; Flexibility; Guinea Pigs; Humanities and Social Sciences; Learning; Male; Motor Activity - physiology; Motor task performance; multidisciplinary; Photic Stimulation; Reinforcement; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Sensors; Swine; Temporal distribution; Time Perception
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-76953-y

Temporal precision is a determinant of performance in various motor activities. Although the accuracy and precision of timing in activities have been previously measured and quantified, temporal dynamics with flexible precision have not been considered. Here, we examined the temporal dynamics in timed motor activities (timed actions) using a guinea pig model in a behavioural task requiring an animal to control action timing to obtain a water reward. In well-trained animals, momentary variations in timing precision were extracted from the temporal distribution of the timed actions measured over daily 12-h sessions. The resampling of the observed time of action in each session demonstrated significant changes of timing precision within a session. Periods with higher timing precision appeared indiscriminately during the same session, and such periods lasted ~ 20 min on average. We conclude that the timing precision in trained actions is flexible and changes dynamically in guinea pigs. By elucidating the brain mechanisms involved in flexibility and dynamics with an animal model, future studies should establish more effective methods to actively enhance timing precision in our motor activities, such as sports.