Abstract
Accurate time perception is clearly essential for the successful implementation of space missions. To elucidate the effect of microgravity on time perception, we used three emotional picture stimuli: neutral, fear, and disgust, in combination with a temporal bisection task to measure 16 male participants’ time perception in 15 days of –6° head-down bed rest, which is a reliable simulation model for most physiological effects of spaceflight. We found that: (1) participants showed temporal overestimation of the fear stimuli in the middle phase (day 8), suggesting that when participants’ behavioral simulations were consistent with the action implications of the emotional stimuli, they could still elicit an overestimation of time even if the subjective arousal of the emotional stimuli was not high. (2) Participants’ temporal sensitivity tends to get worse in the bed rest phase (days 8 and 15) and better in the post-bed rest phase, especially for neutral and fear stimuli, suggesting that multiple presentations of short-term emotional stimuli may also lead to a lack of affective effects. This reduced the pacemaker rate and affected temporal perceptual sensitivity. Also, this may be related to changes in physiological factors in participants in the bed rest state, such as reduced vagal excitability. These results provide new evidence to support the theory of embodied cognition in the context of time perception in head-down bed rest and suggest important perspectives for future perception science research in special environments such as microgravity.
Highlights
Time perception is an important ability in everyday life and can influence individuals’ behavioral choices (Allman et al, 2014)
This study aimed to explore the effects of emotional stimuli on time perception and its changes under –6◦ head-down bed rest, which simulates the physiological response to weightlessness that occurs during space flight
We found that: participants showed a temporal overestimation effect for fear stimuli compared to neutral and disgust stimuli in the middle phase of bed rest, and a decreasing trend in temporal sensitivity to the three types of stimuli in the middle and later phases, especially for fear and neutral stimuli
Summary
Time perception is an important ability in everyday life and can influence individuals’ behavioral choices (Allman et al, 2014). Correct time perception has an impact on flight space navigation performance and the execution of tasks according to the spaceflight schedule during space missions. When time perception is off, it may lead to improper manipulation or failure to complete tasks within the scheduled time (Christensen and Talbot, 1986; Zhang and Bai, 1999). Some early studies have confirmed that astronauts’ perception of time changes during space missions. Ratino et al (1988) have found that astronauts overestimated the shortest duration task as the mission proceeds and had statistical significance in comparing preflight and postflight baselines. Based on the temporal control study of the two astronauts, Semjen et al (1998) further concluded
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
