Body temperature and time perception in morning and evening types

Area of Science:

• Chronobiology
• Cognitive Psychology
• Physiology

Background:

• Time perception may fluctuate with circadian rhythms, including body temperature.
• Previous research suggests a negative correlation between body temperature and time perception.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in time perception between morning and evening types at different times of day.
• To examine the relationship between time perception, body temperature, and social jet lag.

Main Methods:

• 33 participants (17 morning types, 16 evening types) completed a time production task.
• Sessions were conducted twice daily (morning and evening) over two days with varying stimulus durations (1-15s).
• Chronotype and social jet lag were assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire and Munich Chronotype Questionnaire-Turkish version.

Main Results:

• Produced time was shorter in the evening than in the morning.
• All stimulus durations were underestimated, with greater underestimation for longer durations.
• Body temperature increased significantly from morning to evening, but no relationship with time perception was found.

Conclusions:

• Time perception is shorter in the evening, and longer stimuli are more underestimated.
• The study did not find evidence supporting a relationship between time perception and body temperature or social jet lag.