Have you often heard this old saying: Happy times are always short-lived. Many believe that the brain is essentially synchronized with an artificial clock, counting time in very specific, minute-by-minute increments. But a neuroscientific study from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas shows that this is not how our brains work.


Neuroscience research has found that humans perceive the passage of time based on the number of experiences they have, rather than some kind of internal clock. Image source: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

So what exactly is the "working mode" of the brain? In fact, the human brain perceives the passage of time based on the number of experiences it has, rather than some kind of internal clock. In addition, increasing speed or output during activity can also affect the brain's perception of time.

Psychologist James Hyman explains that humans judge time based on what they do and what happens to them. "When we are stationary and bored, time passes very slowly because we are doing nothing or nothing is happening; conversely, when a lot is happening, each activity pushes our brains 'forward'."

Hyman gave the example of two factory workers who were responsible for making 100 small parts during a shift. One worker completed the task in 30 minutes, while the other took 90 minutes. Monitoring and analysis showed that the length of time it took to complete a task did not affect brain patterns. The brain is not a clock, it is like a counter. What the brain records is an "atmosphere", a feeling of time.

This again involves the question of how the brain counts. When the brain completes a task involving a sequence of movements, various firing cells begin to cooperate, repeatedly passing the task to different groups of neurons, similar to runners passing a baton in a relay race. "The cells work together, arranging randomly over time to complete tasks. One cell takes on some, and then another cell takes on others," Hyman said. In other words, the cells are tracking movement.

It is this counting method of the brain that leads to the feeling that "the more you do, the faster time passes." Going back to the original question, it is often said that time flies when you are having fun. A more accurate statement is actually "time flies when you do a lot of things."

"It can be funny and sometimes overwhelming when things are moving too fast. But we don't have to think of it as a purely mental experience. Instead, it helps if you think of it as a physical process," Hyman says. "If you're overwhelmed, just slow down."

This leads to some interesting connections and applications. Researchers speculate that this could provide insights into dealing with things like studying and even breakups.

For example, when we want to remember something, we may need to slow down - spend some time studying, then take the time to move on to the next activity and give ourselves some quiet time. Conversely, if you want to get over something quickly (like a breakup), jump right into the next activity.

All in all, viewing the brain as a controllable physical entity can help people gain greater control over their subjective experiences.