The Effect Of Stress On Time Perception: An ERP Study

Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate effects of stress produced by threatening context of possible punishment on short and long interval time perception within the framework of"attentional-gate model"by using ERPs technology.Method: A total of 10 postgraduate students of Capital Institute of Physical Education majored sprint participated in the study. The study made use of"cue-target"paradigm under normal and stress condition: background for stimulus presentation was a white disk with 5cm diameter located in the middle of gray screen; The experiment began when"go"emerged on the white disk; The cue stimulus was a black disk with 1cm diameter appeared in the middle of the white one, which lasted for 100ms and then disappeared, the screen reverted to the black background with white disk at the same time, after lasting for a period of time (600ms or 1500ms), the target stimulation appeared and the subjects were required to press keyboard when seeing it. The amplitude of CNV, N2 and P3 are recorded and compared under two conditions.Results: (1)In 600ms interval, CNV amplitude was significant smaller in stress condition than in common condition; in early 1500ms interval, CNV amplitude was significant larger in stress condition than in common condition; in late 1500ms interval, there is no significant difference of CNV amplitude between common condition and stress condition. (2)In both 600ms and 1500ms interval, N2 amplitude were significant larger in stress condition than in common condition. (3)In 600ms interval, P3 amplitude was significant smaller in stress condition than in common condition; in 1500ms interval, the significant difference of P3 amplitude between common condition and stress condition was not existent.Conclusions:(1) In short interval, stress condition influenced the CNV of time perception to some extent.(2) In long interval, stress condition influenced CNV of early time perception.(2) In both short and long interval, stress condition influenced N2 after time perception.(4) Stress condition influenced P3 after time perception in short interval to some extent.