Perceived Age

An exploration of how our perception of time accelerates with age and the neurobiological factors influencing it.

  • Perception of Time: Time seems to pass more quickly as we age, with experiences becoming less novel and dopamine levels decreasing.
  • Neurobiology and Time: Dopamine, which impacts our internal clock, plays a significant role in how we perceive time. Higher dopamine levels from novel experiences slow down our perception of time.
  • Reminiscence Bump: Novel experiences, especially during formative years, create lasting memories and impact how we perceive our identity and time.
  • Cognitive Illusion: The perceived acceleration of time as we age is a cognitive illusion, driven by the repetition of daily routines and a decrease in novel stimuli.
  • Perceived Age Concept: As we age, each year represents a smaller percentage of our life, making time feel shorter. This concept highlights the discrepancy between chronological and perceived age.
  • Embracing Novelty: Engaging in new activities and experiences can help stretch our subjective sense of time, counteracting the perceived acceleration that comes with age.
  • Life Perspective: The blog reflects on how embracing change and maintaining dynamic habits can make life feel more fulfilling, even as time seems to speed up.

The full post is available here.