# Altered gravity and time perception: a brief review

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how changes in gravity affect how humans perceive time, integrating findings from psychology, neuroscience, and physiology.

## Contribution

It highlights the novel integration of multisensory and bodily signals in time perception under altered gravity.

## Key findings

- Time perception is influenced by multisensory and bodily signals tied to gravity.
- Research gaps exist in linking physiological changes to behavioral performance in altered gravity.
- Longer-term effects of gravity changes on time perception remain understudied.

## Abstract

Gravity is fundamental to life on Earth, shaping biological systems and perceptual expectations. Understanding how gravity influences cognition is critical as humans increasingly encounter altered-gravity environments through spaceflight and parabolic flights. This mini-review synthesizes emerging findings on how deviations from Earth-normal gravity affect human time perception. Studies across fields of psychology, neuroscience, and physiology suggest that time perception reflects the dynamic integration of multisensory and bodily signals anchored to Earth's gravitational constraints. We identify key gaps in linking physiological changes to behavioral performance and in extending research to longer time scales, areas needing further advancement to benefit space travelers and offer insights into mechanisms of human timing.

PROSPERO CRD42024577286.