Physics Maths Engineering
Joan Danielle K. Ongchoco,
Madeline Gedvila,
Wilma A. Bainbridge
Time is the fabric of experience — yet it is incredibly malleable in the mind of the observer: seeming to drag on, or fly right by at different moments. One of the most influential drivers of temporal distortions is attention, where heightened attention dilates subjective time. But an equally important feature of subjective experience involves not just the objects of attention, but also what information gets tagged to be remembered or forgotten in the first place, independent of attention (i.e. intrinsic image memorability). Here we test how memorability influences time perception. Observers viewed scenes in an oddball paradigm, where the last scene could be a forgettable “oddball” amidst memorable ones, or vice versa. Subjective time dilation occurred only for forgettable oddballs, but not memorable ones — demonstrating an oddball effect where the oddball did not differ in low-level visual features, image category, or even subjective memorability. But more importantly, these results emphasize how memory can interact with temporal experience: forgettable endings amidst memorable sequences dilate our experience of time.
Time perception is highly subjective and can feel like it speeds up or slows down depending on the situation. This malleability is influenced by factors like attention and memory, which shape how we experience the passage of time.
Attention is a key driver of time perception. When we focus intensely on something, time often feels like it slows down. This is known as temporal dilation, where heightened attention stretches our subjective experience of time.
Memorability—whether something is easily remembered or forgotten—also influences time perception. This study found that forgettable events in a sequence of memorable ones can make time feel like it’s dragging, even when attention levels are similar.
The oddball effect occurs when a rare or unexpected event (an "oddball") in a sequence makes time feel longer. This study showed that forgettable oddballs, not memorable ones, cause time dilation, even when they don’t differ in visual features or attention levels.
Participants viewed a series of scenes in an oddball paradigm, where the last scene was either a forgettable oddball among memorable ones or vice versa. Their subjective experience of time was measured to see how memorability influenced time perception.
The study found that:
Forgettable oddballs disrupt the flow of memorable sequences, making them stand out in our perception. This disruption stretches our subjective experience of time, even though the oddball itself isn’t particularly attention-grabbing or visually distinct.
The findings highlight how memory interacts with time perception. Forgettable events in a memorable sequence create a temporal "hiccup," making time feel longer. This suggests that memory processes play a key role in shaping our experience of time.
Understanding how memorability affects time perception can help in:
While previous studies focused on attention as the main driver of time perception, this research emphasizes the role of memory. It shows that forgettable events, not just attention-grabbing ones, can distort our sense of time.
Future research could explore:
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Show by month | Manuscript | Video Summary |
---|---|---|
2025 April | 3 | 3 |
2025 March | 71 | 71 |
2025 February | 47 | 47 |
2025 January | 52 | 52 |
2024 December | 54 | 54 |
2024 November | 65 | 65 |
2024 October | 103 | 103 |
2024 September | 56 | 56 |
2024 August | 35 | 35 |
2024 July | 75 | 75 |
2024 June | 27 | 27 |
2024 May | 37 | 37 |
2024 April | 42 | 42 |
2024 March | 14 | 14 |
Total | 681 | 681 |