The Effect of Electrical-Stimulation-Induced Emotion on Time Perception: A Time-Reproduction Task

Abstract

Duration cognition refers to an individual’s cognition for the duration of a given stimulus. Previous studies have explored the effect of emotions on duration perception; however, the results remain controversial. To explore the characteristics of college students’ time perception under electrical stimulation, this study used a time-reproduction task and a within-subject design with electrical-stimulation conditions and target duration as independent variables. Additionally, this study used the average temporal reproduction and the reproduction coefficient of variation as dependent variables; the subjective arousal degree, value, and electrical activity under electric stimulation were recorded simultaneously. The results indicated a significant main effect of electrical stimulation. Compared to non-electrical stimulation, the average temporal reproduction of participants under electrical stimulation was significantly shorter. Additionally, the interaction between electrical stimulation and target duration was significant. Furthermore, with the increase in the target duration, the shortening degree of the average temporal reproduction under the electrical stimulation increased significantly. Additionally, the participants’ subjective arousal with electrical stimulation was higher than that without an electrical shock, and the valence with electrical stimulation was lower than that without electrical stimulation. These results suggest that the emotions induced by electrical stimulation increase the internal-clock speed, which leads to the relative overestimation of time perception.