Time in a bottle. A psychophysics study of human time perception through aging

TL;DR

This study develops a mathematical model integrating psychophysical laws to explain how human perception of time changes with age, highlighting a shift around mental maturity and providing quantitative insights into time perception acceleration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mathematical framework combining classical psychophysical theorems to model age-related changes in time perception.

Findings

Perception of time shifts significantly around mental maturity age

Model predicts a decrease in sensitivity to temporal stimuli with age

Provides analytical values to quantify time perception acceleration

Abstract

Time perception is crucial for a coherent human experience. As life progresses, our perception of the passage of time becomes increasingly non-uniform, often feeling as though it accelerates with age. While various causes for this phenomenon have been theorized, a comprehensive mathematical and theoretical framework remains underexplored. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind perceived time dilation by integrating classical and revised psychophysical theorems with a novel mathematical approach. Utilizing Weber-Fechner laws as foundational elements, we develop a model that transitions from exponential to logarithmic functions to represent changes in time perception across the human lifespan. Our results indicate that the perception of time shifts significantly around the age of mental maturity, aligning with a proposed inversion point where sensitivity to temporal stimuli decreases, eventually plateauing out at a constant rate. This model not only explains the underlying causes of time perception changes but also provides analytical values to quantify this acceleration. These findings offer valuable insights into the cognitive and neurological processes influencing how we experience time as we go through life.