Does time seem to slow down sometimes? Scientists have investigated this phenomenon

A recent study questions the widely accepted concept that people perceive time in the same way. Experts have revealed that our sense of time changes depending on the environment, IFLScience reports.

The study was conducted by a team of scientists led by Dr. Martin Wiener from George Mason University. During the experiment, 170 volunteers viewed photos of various spaces, from the bathroom to the airport. The photos were of different sizes, and the spaces on them were of varying degrees of clutter.

The scientists showed the photos over different time intervals and asked the participants to estimate the duration of viewing each picture. The results showed that larger and less "loaded" images were perceived by the participants as more "long-lasting", which caused them to feel the flow of time slowing down.

In addition, Wiener said that the color scheme of photos affects their memorization: photos with red objects are remembered better than with blue ones, as well as images containing large numbers. At the same time, it turned out that more memorable images also have the effect of "slowing down time". 

According to Wiener, the results of the experiments challenge the idea of a "universal internal clock," although scientists recognize that additional research is needed.

The data obtained will help specialists to better understand the mechanisms of human perception of time, which is important both for the development of artificial intelligence and for the study of psychological disorders, such as schizophrenia or ADHD. Understanding how the environment and visual impressions affect the perception of time may shed light on new approaches to the treatment of these neurological conditions.