Time flies: If your days seem to fly by with meetings, phone notifications, and caffeine breaks, rest assured, you’re not alone. This concept traces back to the writings of the Roman poet Virgil over 2000 years ago.
Last year, a study found that many people felt there simply isn’t enough time in the day to accomplish everything. It often feels like time is rushing by at an unstoppable pace.
However, a recent study from George Mason University in the US sheds light on how to slow down time. The research explores the phenomenon of time dilation, where our perception of time is stretched and slowed.
The study delves into whether certain images, experiences, and scenarios can make us feel like we’re spending more time on them than we actually are. The more memorable an image is, the more likely we are to believe we are viewing it for longer than we really are.
The lead researcher, Professor Martin Wiener, explains that our brains may delay the perception of time to gather more information from the moment. This poses an intriguing question: can we mentally slow down time to live more in the present and elongate enjoyable experiences?
Our subjective perception of time is dynamic, as various factors can influence how time appears to pass. For individuals with impulsivity or ADHD, time may seem to move faster, while experiencing “flow” can create the sensation of time slowing down during engaging activities.
Wiener emphasizes the importance of seeking novel experiences to expand our sense of time and enhance our memory. By immersing ourselves in new hobbies, places, subjects, and interactions, we can make better use of our time and feel like we’re living in a state of artificial slow motion.
About our experts
Professor Martin Wiener: An associate professor at George Mason University, Wiener leads a lab that investigates how the brain processes time and space. His research spans areas such as mapping the human brain, neuroimaging, and neuroscience journals.
Source: www.sciencefocus.com
