The Relationship between Subjective Time Perception and Measures of Delay Discounting

This study investigated the extent to which differences in subjective time perception corresponded to measures of delay discounting. Thirty-nine college students served as participants. Participants were first instructed to estimate five different durations of time ranging from 5 s to 120 s. From these estimations, participants were grouped based on an average deviation score (DS). Participants then completed a standard hypothetical monetary delay-discounting interview for delayed $1,000 and $10,000. Ten delays between 1 day and 25 years were used. Area under curve (AUC) measures were calculated and compared across groups and conditions. Mean AUC measures significantly differed across groups in $1,000 and $10,000 conditions. Participants in the negative DS had significantly greater AUC values compared to the positive DS group. Similar magnitude effects were observed for both groups. The results of the current study provide support for including subjective time perception variables in our understanding of the mechanisms influencing delay discounting.