Music and time: the effect of experimental paradigm, musical structure and subjective evaluations on time estimation

Abstract

The effect of experimental paradigm, musical structure and subjective evaluations on time estimation was studied. In a 2 (prospective/retrospective) × 2 (tonal/atonal) between-subjects design, participants listened to either a tonal or an atonal piece in a prospective or a retrospective paradigm and were asked to estimate its duration, and rate it on perceived pleasantness and structure. Interaction effects between experimental paradigm and musical structure were found for time estimations and for subjective ratings. The tonal piece was estimated as longer, more pleasant and in a clearer key in the retrospective paradigm, whereas the reverse was found for the atonal piece. Moreover, time estimations were negatively and positively related to subjective ratings in the prospective and retrospective paradigms respectively. Results are discussed in relation to existing models of time estimation.