Entering trait and context into a cognitive-timer model for time estimation

Subjects were exposed to conditions of perceptual deprivation and perceptual overload, and were then asked to produce short intervals of time. It was hypothesized that the greater the variation in the sensory environment (i.e. perceptual overload vs perceptual deprivation), the shorter would be the time estimation obtained by this method of production. It was further assumed that the personality trait of Experience Seeking could moderate this influence of the altered sensory environments on the functioning of the cognitive timer. A trait -context interaction was uncovered, indicating this moderating effect. Furthermore, both trait and context effects were specific to the measure constant of the psychophysical function relating produced time to required time. These results are presented within a contextualistic approach to the study of subjective time.