Time is one of humanity’s most fundamental concepts, yet how we experience it is deeply subjective. We’ve all experienced those moments that seem to fly by. Perhaps it’s an enjoyable time with good friends or a favorite activity versus those hours that feel like days, like an exceptionally boring class or meeting. Either way, our sense of time is not a constant. Understanding how we perceive time—what researchers call time perception—has become a fascinating area of study in psychology, neuroscience, and even philosophy.
At its core, time perception refers to the subjective experience of the passage of time. Unlike sight or sound, we don’t have a dedicated sensory organ to detect time. Instead, our brain constructs time using various internal processes. Studies have pointed to specific structures in our brains, including areas associated with our circadian rhythms that play critical roles in how we perceive the passage of seconds and minutes. What’s especially intriguing is how flexible our sense of time can be. Under stress, time can seem to slow down—a phenomenon often reported during accidents or emergencies. This is believed to be due to heightened attention and memory encoding during intense experiences, making events seem to last longer in hindsight. On the flip side, time can seem to fly when we’re deeply engaged in an activity. This distortion is linked to the brain’s reduced self-monitoring.
Age also impacts time perception. Children often feel that time moves slowly, while adults frequently comment on how quickly the years pass. I certainly feel that the years get shorter the older I get. This may be related to what is known as the proportional theory, which suggests that each year we live represents a smaller fraction of our lives. For instance, for a 10-year-old, a year is 10% of their life; for a 50-year-old, it’s only 2%. As a result, the passage of time feels faster with age.
Cultural differences also play a role. Western cultures often emphasize punctuality and future planning, aligning with a more linear perception of time. In contrast, some indigenous and Eastern cultures may adopt a more cyclical or event-based concept of time, focusing more on the present and relationships. Technology and modern life further complicate our experience of time. The fast-paced nature of digital life, notifications, and multitasking can fragment our attention, making time feel more compressed. Studies have shown that excessive screen time and information overload can lead to a reduced ability to track time accurately.
Ultimately, time may be constant on a physical level, but our brains, through our individual experiences and perceptions, shape it in remarkably complex ways. Whether it crawls, races, or
seems to stand still, our perception of time mirrors our emotions, activities, culture, and biology. Understanding these nuances may help us live more mindful, intentional lives.
Dr. Dan DaSilva is a neuropsychologist with specialties in aviation and pediatric neuropsychology. He earned his doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, a masters of education in Counseling Psychology from The University of Massachusetts at Boston, and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston College. He completed specialized neuropsychology training through the Veteran’s Administration in a consortium with UMDNJ and University Hospital in Newark, NJ.
