Advancing a temporal science of behavior.

Abstract

All events unfold over time, and the temporal parameters of events matter for cognition. Yet it is common for scholars across disciplines to summarize events using atemporal statistics. Here, we underscore the urgency of illuminating the temporal structure of behavior streams and testing implications for learning. We review evidence on the importance of timing for cognition, drawing on our expertise in developmental science. We provide a framework for the quantification of single behavior streams, coordination between multiple streams, and the organization of streams across extended and multiple timescales. We highlight opportunities for methodological, analytic, and theoretical innovation to advance a temporal science of behavior. Parameterizing the temporal structure of events will accelerate scientific progress on human, animal, and artificial learning systems.