When asked to estimate a three minute period of time, 20 year olds are significantly more accurate than the middle aged or elderly. Why? It seems that the elderly experience time more quickly than the young. Remember when you were a child and the summer holidays seemed to last forever? Perhaps as you get older, the reverse is true and the summer passes in what seems like a single month.
Raj Persaud discusses this strange effect with Professor Douwe Draaisma (left), whose latest book is reviewed by Steven Rose. Professor Draaisma has also carried out research into people’s lives flashing before their eyes.
All in the Mind
