Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm

Abstract Time adaptation aftereffects occur following repeated presentation of stimuli with similar durations. This study tested whether time adaptation mechanisms align with other sensory adaptations by examining whether subsequent temporal percepts are repelled from adapted durations while demonst...

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Main Authors: Wang On Li, Kenneth Sung Lai Yuen, Dorita Hue-fung Chang, Calvin Kai-Ching Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15328-7
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author Wang On Li
Kenneth Sung Lai Yuen
Dorita Hue-fung Chang
Calvin Kai-Ching Yu
author_facet Wang On Li
Kenneth Sung Lai Yuen
Dorita Hue-fung Chang
Calvin Kai-Ching Yu
author_sort Wang On Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Time adaptation aftereffects occur following repeated presentation of stimuli with similar durations. This study tested whether time adaptation mechanisms align with other sensory adaptations by examining whether subsequent temporal percepts are repelled from adapted durations while demonstrating improved sensitivity. Alternative averaging hypotheses derived from Bayesian and central tendency frameworks were also investigated. Beyond the commonly employed time bisection task, this study incorporated a time production task to evaluate whether adaptation influences mental time references or remains limited to perceptual processing. Results showed that adapting to longer durations significantly reduced point of subjective equality (PSEs) in shorter-duration tasks, but not vice versa, with no consistent improvements in sensitivity observed. Support for the classical perceptual adaptation model was therefore limited. Conversely, aftereffects in the 500 ms production task shifted toward adapted durations, aligning with averaging predictions. These findings indicate that time adaptation exerts differential effects on physical versus mental time references. Moreover, temporal adaptation differs from other sensory adaptations in that it represents an integration of multimodal information rather than a modality-specific process.
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spelling doaj-art-7924305eea42480981b26aec97ba92e72025-08-20T03:46:58ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-15328-7Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigmWang On Li0Kenneth Sung Lai Yuen1Dorita Hue-fung Chang2Calvin Kai-Ching Yu3Department of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan UniversityNeuroimaging Center (NIC), Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Johannes Gutenberg University Medical Center MainzDepartment of Psychology, The University of Hong KongDepartment of Counselling and Psychology, Hong Kong Shue Yan UniversityAbstract Time adaptation aftereffects occur following repeated presentation of stimuli with similar durations. This study tested whether time adaptation mechanisms align with other sensory adaptations by examining whether subsequent temporal percepts are repelled from adapted durations while demonstrating improved sensitivity. Alternative averaging hypotheses derived from Bayesian and central tendency frameworks were also investigated. Beyond the commonly employed time bisection task, this study incorporated a time production task to evaluate whether adaptation influences mental time references or remains limited to perceptual processing. Results showed that adapting to longer durations significantly reduced point of subjective equality (PSEs) in shorter-duration tasks, but not vice versa, with no consistent improvements in sensitivity observed. Support for the classical perceptual adaptation model was therefore limited. Conversely, aftereffects in the 500 ms production task shifted toward adapted durations, aligning with averaging predictions. These findings indicate that time adaptation exerts differential effects on physical versus mental time references. Moreover, temporal adaptation differs from other sensory adaptations in that it represents an integration of multimodal information rather than a modality-specific process.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15328-7Subjective time perceptionTime adaptationTime bisection taskTime production task
spellingShingle Wang On Li
Kenneth Sung Lai Yuen
Dorita Hue-fung Chang
Calvin Kai-Ching Yu
Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
Scientific Reports
Subjective time perception
Time adaptation
Time bisection task
Time production task
title Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
title_full Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
title_fullStr Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
title_full_unstemmed Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
title_short Studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
title_sort studying the aftereffect and changes in sensitivity to physical and mental time references using a time adaptation paradigm
topic Subjective time perception
Time adaptation
Time bisection task
Time production task
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-15328-7
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