Abstract
Accurate perception of time is vital in some athletic activities such as free-diving performance. The exact mechanisms underlying the correct estimation of long intervals using different time estimation paradigms are still an issue to be solved in psychology. To this end, in the current study, by using a prospective paradigm, examined top-down and bottom-up predictors of 25, 50, and 75 seconds of apnea durations. Eleven free-diving athletes performed the target apnea estimations in two experimental conditions: apnea in the air and immersed apnea. In line with our integrative perspective, we obtained heart rate values, attentional control capacities, and affectivity states of the participants, and analyzed the relationship of these with the directional errors of three target apnea estimations. A series of within-participants analyses found the following: first, the heart-rate alone is not the only factor influencing time estimation during long intervals; second, attentional capacity and positive affect contributed to the accuracy of time estimation in a non-constant fashion; third, these three variables affected the accuracy of time estimation differently according to the modality and the duration of the target interval; and fourth, the participants were most accurate in estimating the time during 75s of apnea in the immersed condition.