Summary: People perceive time as moving slower when they are exercising compared to resting or post-exercise. The research involved participants undergoing a time perception task during different cycling conditions, including solo and competitive scenarios.
The findings suggest that the slowing of time perception could influence exercise enjoyment and performance optimization. This novel insight into how exercise affects our sense of time opens new avenues for enhancing exercise routines and competitive strategies.
Key Facts:
- Time perception slows during physical activity compared to periods of rest or post-exercise.
- The study tested various cycling conditions, such as solo trials and competitive scenarios with avatars, but found no additional effects from competition on time perception.
- The research could help tailor exercise experiences to be more enjoyable and effective, potentially using the altered sense of time to improve performance and motivation.
Source: Canterbury Christ College University
Published in the journal Brain and Behavior, results of a new study show for the first time that individuals tend to experience time as moving slower when they are exercising compared to when they are resting or after completing their exercise.
Professor Andrew Edwards, head of the School of Psychology and Life Sciences at Canterbury Christ Church University, led the work with Dr. Stein Menting and Associate Professor Marije Elferink-Gemser both of the University of Groningen and with Professor Florentina Hettinga of Northumbria University.
The team identified that not only was the perception of time slowed down during exercise, but that this effect was not further impacted by the presence of fellow competitors.
Participants performed a standardized time perception task before, during and after exercise and the cycling trials included different conditions: solo trials, trials with a passive companion avatar, and competitive trials against an active opponent avatar.
Professor Edwards said, “Our findings have important implications for healthy exercise choices, enjoyment levels and also for how we use this information to optimize performance.”
“The study, however, comes with several caveats,” he added. “It’s still unclear whether the results are generalizable. While the participants weren’t professional cyclists, they were in good physical shape, which isn’t true of everybody.
“The sample size of 33 people offer an intriguing first glimpse into how our perception of time can be warped—and perhaps a clue as to how to take things to the next level while exercising.”
“The main strands of the work are to see how we can motivate people to engage with exercise, avoid/mitigate negative associations with time appearing to move slowly and perhaps see if we can use this apparent slowing of time to our advantage.”
“This study would not have been possible with the extensive contributions of my colleagues and the partnership between our respective universities.” Professor Edwards said.
The study participants completed the series of 4-kilometer cycling trials on a Velotron cycling ergometer with large screens simulating race course conditions both with and without competitors.
The group’s next steps are to extrapolate these findings to other groups of people and to examine possible impacts on health and performance.
About this exercise and time perception research news
Author: Andrew Edwards
Source: Canterbury Christ College University
Contact: Andrew Edwards – Canterbury Christ College University
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access.
“The perception of time is slowed in response to exercise, an effect not further compounded by competitors: behavioral implications for exercise and health” by Andrew Edwards et al. Brain and Behavior
Abstract
The perception of time is slowed in response to exercise, an effect not further compounded by competitors: behavioral implications for exercise and health
Introduction
The theory of relativity postulates that time is relative to context and exercise seems such a situation. The purpose of this study was to examine whether situational factors such as perceived exertion and the introduction of an opponent influence competitors’ perception of time.
Methods
Thirty-three recreationally active adults (F = 16; M = 17) performed three standardized 4-km cycling trials in a randomized order. Velotron 3D software was used to create a visual, virtual environment representing (1) a solo time trial (FAM and SO), (2) a time trial with a passive opponent avatar (PO), and (3) a time trial with an opponent avatar and participant instruction to actively finish the trial before the opponent (AO). Participants were asked to estimate a 30-s time period using a standardized protocol for reproducibility before exercise at 500 m, 1500 m, 2500 m, and post exercise. Rate of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured throughout the trials.
Results
Exercise trials revealed that time was perceived to run “slow” compared to chronological time during exercise compared to resting and post-exercise measurements (p < 0.001). There was no difference between exercise conditions (SO, PO, and AO) or time points (500 m, 1500 m, and 2500 m). RPE increased throughout the trials.
Conclusion
The results of this study demonstrate for the first time that exercise both with and without the influence of opponents influences time perception. This finding has important implications for healthy exercise choices and also for optimal performance. Independent of RPE, time was perceived to move slower during exercise, underpinning inaccurate pacing and decision-making across physical activities.
