The study by Rao, Mayer, and Harrington investigates the neural mechanisms underlying temporal processing using event-related fMRI. The researchers examined the time course of brain activation associated with different components of a time perception task, including encoding time intervals, comparing intervals, and implementing responses. Key findings include: 1. **Subcortical Activation**: Early activation in the basal ganglia, particularly the right putamen and caudate nucleus, was uniquely associated with encoding time intervals, suggesting a role in formulating representations of time. 2. **Cerebellar Activation**: Cerebellar activation, primarily in the vermis, was observed during the time perception task but unfolded later, indicating involvement in processes other than explicit timing, such as sensorimotor and cognitive functions. 3. **Cortical Activation**: Early cortical activation in the right inferior parietal cortex and bilateral premotor cortex was observed during encoding of time intervals, implicating these regions in attention and temporary maintenance of intervals. 4. **Late Cortical Activation**: Late activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex emerged during the comparison of time intervals, suggesting its role in decision-making and response selection. The results provide insights into the dynamic network of cortical-subcortical activation associated with different components of temporal information processing, highlighting the interplay between internal timekeeping, attention, and working memory. The findings support the involvement of the basal ganglia in timekeeping and the role of the right inferior parietal cortex in regulating the accumulation of pulses.The study by Rao, Mayer, and Harrington investigates the neural mechanisms underlying temporal processing using event-related fMRI. The researchers examined the time course of brain activation associated with different components of a time perception task, including encoding time intervals, comparing intervals, and implementing responses. Key findings include: 1. **Subcortical Activation**: Early activation in the basal ganglia, particularly the right putamen and caudate nucleus, was uniquely associated with encoding time intervals, suggesting a role in formulating representations of time. 2. **Cerebellar Activation**: Cerebellar activation, primarily in the vermis, was observed during the time perception task but unfolded later, indicating involvement in processes other than explicit timing, such as sensorimotor and cognitive functions. 3. **Cortical Activation**: Early cortical activation in the right inferior parietal cortex and bilateral premotor cortex was observed during encoding of time intervals, implicating these regions in attention and temporary maintenance of intervals. 4. **Late Cortical Activation**: Late activation in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex emerged during the comparison of time intervals, suggesting its role in decision-making and response selection. The results provide insights into the dynamic network of cortical-subcortical activation associated with different components of temporal information processing, highlighting the interplay between internal timekeeping, attention, and working memory. The findings support the involvement of the basal ganglia in timekeeping and the role of the right inferior parietal cortex in regulating the accumulation of pulses.