It’s a common sentiment that as we grow older, time appears to pass by more swiftly. Despite scientists not yet pinpointing the exact reason why people perceive time to speed up as they age, a study sheds some light on this phenomenon.
According to research conducted at Princeton University in the United States as our age advances, we start to feel like time is slipping away faster. This perception is attributed to the routine nature of our lives as we age with fewer dramatic events occurring that could significantly impact our perception of time.
In contrast, during childhood, we constantly seek out new experiences resulting in a slower perception of time passing. However as we reach middle age, the inclination to engage in novel activities diminishes leading to a feeling that time is accelerating.
Researchers suggest that humans gauge time based on memorable events and as we age, the number of memorable events decreases. Consequently, people tend to remember infrequent events more vividly than routine occurrences.
This phenomenon explains why individuals often recall single significant events more readily than routine tasks that they may have performed thousands of times. The study indicates that in childhood, there is a constant effort to explore and experience new things resulting in a slower perception of time due to the brain processing new details rapidly.
Conversely in midlife, the inclination to engage in novel activities decreases leading to a perception that time is passing quickly.
According to researchers, our brain amalgamates consecutive days and weeks making them seem to blend together, thus creating the impression that days, weeks or months are passing swiftly. They explain that as we age, our perception of life experiences changes because the brain requires more time to process new images.
In contrast, during childhood, our brain swiftly analyzes new details making it feel like days or weeks are elongated. The researchers note that changes in nerves and neurons over time play a significant role in altering the perception of time passing.
For example, when engaging in an activity that requires concentration within a specific time frame or pursuing a complex goal, time seems to fly by. Similarly, while playing games, watching an engaging movie or reading a captivating book, individuals become engrossed causing time to appear to pass quickly.
During these moments, the brain processes various perspectives making it seem like time has flown by. Conversely, when feeling bored or disinterested, the brain’s perception of time slows down.
According to researchers, various mechanisms in the brain are responsible for perceiving time differently. One such mechanism is the velocity mechanism which mobilizes neural cells to form a network for engaging in an activity. As these cells navigate swiftly, time seems to pass more quickly.
