What is it about?
Ninety-six subjects were asked to estimate durations of either “empty” or “filled” intervals during which they performed verbal tasks at three levels of difficulty. The verbal tasks were performed under three conditions of external rhythmic stimulation: fast, slow, and no external tempo. It was found that subjective time estimations were a decreasing function of task difficulty, and that durations for “empty” intervals were estimated to be longer than those for “filled” intervals. A relationship between external tempo and subjective time estimation was found. Longest time estimates were obtained under fast external tempo, and shortest time estimates were obtained under slow external tempo. Time estimates under the condition of no external tempo were found to be intermediate. The findings were interpreted as supporting a cognitive timer model of subjective time estimation.
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Why is it important?
For a more developed understanding of this cognitive timer model of subjective time estimation, see: Glicksohn, J. (2001). Temporal cognition and the phenomenology of time: A multiplicative function for apparent duration. Consciousness and Cognition, 10, 1-25.
Perspectives
My first paper (as junior author) allowed me to consider the role that environmental stimulation has on the rate of functioning of an internal timer. The prediction is straightforward: The faster the rate of external stimulation, the faster will be the rate of the pacemaker component of the internal clock, hence the shorter will be the time duration produced. In this paper, we reported that longest time estimates were obtained under fast external tempo, and shortest time estimates were obtained under slow external tempo, when using the method of reproduction. What, therefore, is the relationship between time production and time reproduction? I have returned to this topic over the years, each time with increasing depth of analysis.
Professor Joseph Glicksohn
Bar-Ilan University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The influence of task difficulty and external tempo on subjective time estimation, Perception & Psychophysics, September 1983, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.3758/bf03203060.
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