Time estimation during nocturnal sleep in human subjects

Sayaka Aritake, Makoto Uchiyama*, Hirokuni Tagaya, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Kenichi Kuriyama, Akiko Ozaki, Xin Tan, Kayo Shibui, Yuichi Kamei, Yoshiro Okubo, Kiyohisa Takahashi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

It has been postulated that time estimation during nocturnal sleep in humans can be explained by an interval timing clock inside the brain. However, no systematic investigations have been carried out with respect to how the human brain perceives the passage of time during sleep. The brain mechanisms of over- or underestimation of time spent in sleep have not yet been clarified. Here, we carried out an experimental study in which 11 healthy volunteers participated in time estimation trials scheduled six times during 9 h nocturnal sleep periods, under carefully controlled conditions. The time estimation ratio (TER: a ratio of subjective passage of time to actual time interval) decreased significantly from the first to the sixth trial. Individual TER was positively correlated with slow wave sleep prior to the trial, while it was negatively correlated with REM sleep. Our results indicate that the human brain has an ability to estimate the passage of time during nocturnal sleep without referring to time cues, and that the accuracy of this function fluctuates from overestimation in the early hours of sleep to underestimation in the last hours of sleep.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)387-393
Number of pages7
JournalNeuroscience Research
Volume49
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004 Aug
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Circadian rhythm
  • Cognitive science
  • Insomnia
  • Interval timing clock
  • Sleep
  • Time estimation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience(all)

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