Time perception: Effects of sex and sound intensity on scales of subjective duration

Previous work has shown that symmetrical stimuli are judged as lasting longer than asymmetrical ones, even when actual duration is matched. This effect has been replicated with different methods and stimuli types. We aimed to a) replicate the effect of symmetry on subjective duration, and b) assess whether it was further modulated by the number of symmetrical axes. There was no evidence for either effect. This null result cannot be explained by reduced statistical power or enhanced floor or ceiling effects. There is no obvious stimulus-based explanation either. However, we are mindful of the reproducibility crisis and file drawer problems in psychology. Other symmetry and time perception researchers should be aware of this null result. One possibility is that the effect of symmetry on subjective duration is limited to very specific experimental paradigms.

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Formalin-induced pain prolongs sub- to supra-second time estimation in rats

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.11002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e11002

Author(s):

Xinhe Liu ◽

Ning Wang ◽

Jinyan Wang ◽

Fei Luo

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Inflammatory Pain ◽

Weber Fraction ◽

Time Estimation ◽

Saline Group ◽

Time Range ◽

Formalin Injection ◽

Post Injection ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Temporal Estimation

Background Temporal estimation can be influenced by pain, which is a complex psychological and physiological phenomenon. However, the time range in which perception is most sensitive to pain remains unclear. Methods In the present study, we explored the effects of acute inflammatory pain on time perception in the sub- to supra-second (0.6–2.4-s) and supra-second (2–8-s) ranges in rats. Plantar formalin injection was used to induce acute inflammatory pain, and a temporal bisection task was used to measure time perception. Task test sessions were held for five consecutive days (one per day): the day before injection (baseline), immediately after injection, and the three post-injection days. The point of subjective equality (PSE, which reflects the subjective duration) and Weber fraction (which reflects temporal sensitivity) were calculated and analysed. Results In the 0.6–2.4-s range, the PSE was significantly lower, indicating prolonged subjective duration, in the formalin group relative to the saline group (p = 0.049) immediately after injection. Formalin-induced pain also tended to lengthened time perception in the 0.6–2.4-s range on post-injection days 2 (p = 0.06) and 3 (p = 0.054). In the 2–8-s range, formalin injection did not affect the PSE or Weber fraction. Conclusions The enhanced effect of pain on temporal perception in the sub- to supra-second range is observed in this study and this effect is attenuated with the prolongation of estimated time, even in rats.

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Structured Time and Subjective Acceleration of Time

Perceptual and Motor Skills ◽

10.2466/pms.1984.59.1.335 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 59 (1) ◽

pp. 335-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Charles E. Joubert

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Free Time ◽

Time Interval ◽

Subjective Time ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Subjective Change ◽

Change Perceptions ◽

The Individual

The present paper gives some evidence that differences in subjective time acceleration with aging are correlated with differences in the extent to which time is structured for the individual, as opposed to free time. Lemlich's 1975 hypothesis relating this speeding up of time to the subjective duration of the time interval was only partially supported by the evidence. Subjective change perceptions of happiness were not correlated significantly with this phenomenon of time perception.

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A failure to replicate the effect of visual symmetry on subjective duration

10.1101/2020.08.20.258871 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Alexis D.J. Makin ◽

Afzal Rahman ◽

Marco Bertamini

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Statistical Power ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Null Result ◽

Actual Duration ◽

Ceiling Effects ◽

The Uk ◽

File Drawer

AbstractPrevious work has shown that symmetrical or regular stimuli are judged as lasting longer than asymmetrical or irregular ones, even when actual duration is matched. This effect has been replicated with different methods and stimuli types, both in the UK and Japan. We aimed to a) replicate the effect of symmetry on subjective duration, and b) assess whether it was further modulated by the number of symmetrical axes. There was no evidence for either effect. This null result cannot be explained by reduced statistical power or enhanced floor or ceiling effects. There is no obvious stimulus-based explanation either. However, we are mindful of the reproducibility crisis and file drawer problems in psychology. Other symmetry and time perception researchers should be aware of this null result.

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Ratio Judgments of Empty Durations with Numeric Scales

Perception ◽

10.1068/p170093 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 93-118 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Yoshitaka Nakajima ◽

Seishi Nishimura ◽

Ryunen Teranishi

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Quantitative Data ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Time Interval ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Straight Line ◽

Empty Time Interval ◽

General Aspects ◽

Empty Time

A study is reported on the perception of empty time intervals marked by auditory signals. Nakajima's supplement hypothesis, which states that the subjective duration of a subjectively empty time interval is proportional to its physical duration plus a constant of ~80 ms, was examined quantitatively. Although this hypothesis has been used to explain various general aspects of time perception, from a global viewpoint, it has lacked the quantitative data necessary to describe the shape of the psychophysical functions mathematically. In the present study, subjects used two positive numbers to estimate the subjective ratio ( m: n) between the durations of two serial or separate empty intervals. The psychophysical functions for empty durations 50–600 ms long could be approximated by a straight line with a positive y-intercept, as predicted by the hypothesis. The effective range of the hypothesis could be extended to ~1200 ms. A power function (without any modifications) also gave good approximations. The reliability and validity of the supplement hypothesis are discussed.

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Stronger cortisol response to acute psychosocial stress is correlated with larger decrease in temporal sensitivity

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.2061 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e2061 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zhuxi Yao ◽

Liang Zhang ◽

Caihong Jiang ◽

Kan Zhang ◽

Jianhui Wu

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Control Group ◽

Cortisol Response ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Bisection Task ◽

Temporal Bisection ◽

Cortisol Responses ◽

Temporal Bisection Task ◽

The Relationship ◽

Weber Ratio

As a fundamental dimension of cognition and behavior, time perception has been found to be sensitive to stress. However, how one’s time perception changes with responses to stress is still unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress-induced cortisol response and time perception. A group of 40 healthy young male adults performed a temporal bisection task before and after the Trier Social Stress Test for a stress condition. A control group of 27 male participants completed the same time perception task without stress induction. In the temporal bisection task, participants were first presented with short (400 ms) and long (1,600 ms) visual signals serving as anchor durations and then required to judge whether the intermediate probe durations were more similar to the short or the long anchor. The bisection point and Weber ratio were calculated and indicated the subjective duration and the temporal sensitivity, respectively. Data showed that participants in the stress group had significantly increased salivary cortisol levels, heart rates, and negative affects compared with those in the control group. The results did not show significant group differences for the subjective duration or the temporal sensitivity. However, the results showed a significant positive correlation between stress-induced cortisol responses and decreases in temporal sensitivity indexed by increases in the Weber ratio. This correlation was not observed for the control group. Changes in subjective duration indexed by temporal bisection points were not correlated with cortisol reactivity in both the groups. In conclusion, the present study found that although no significant change was observed in time perception after an acute stressor on the group-level comparison (i.e., stress vs. nonstress group), individuals with stronger cortisol responses to stress showed a larger decrease in temporal sensitivity. This finding may provide insight into the understanding of the relationship between stress and temporal sensitivity.

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A New Illusion of Time Perception

Music Perception An Interdisciplinary Journal ◽

10.2307/40285521 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 431-448 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Yoshitaka Nakajima ◽

Gert Ten Hoopen ◽

René Van Der Wilk

Keyword(s):

Time Perception ◽

Time Interval ◽

Rhythm Perception ◽

Time Intervals ◽

Subjective Duration ◽

Common Marker ◽

Standard Duration ◽

Empty Time Interval ◽

Short Time ◽

Empty Time

When two very short time intervals are presented serially by sound markers (in such a way that they share a common marker) the subject's duration judgments of the second time interval can be affected by the duration of the first interval. Such a conspicuous effect has not been reported in the literature. Standard empty time intervals of 120, 240, 480, and 720 msec were preceded by a neighboring empty time interval of various physical durations, and subjects adjusted a comparison empty time interval to the same subjective duration as these standards. We found clear underestimations of the standard duration when its physical duration was 120 msec. For example, when the preceding duration was 45 msec, the relative underestimation was about 40%. Because such a stable and remarkable underestimation appeared in a very simple situation, this phenomenon may be called a new illusion. Such an illusion did not appear when the time interval to be judged was succeeded by another time interval. At present we cannot explain the illusion, but in the general discussion we attempt to relate it to some findings in rhythm perception.

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