EXPRESS: Rigged Clocks and Cognitive Performance: Task-specific Effects and the Potential Role of Manipulation Suspicion

Previous research in time perception has predominantly focused on how cognitive and emotional factors influence subjective time perception. However, investigations into whether subjective time perception, in turn, affects emotional and cognitive outcomes remain limited. To address this, the current study systematically examined how external clocks, rigged to run faster or slower, impact cognitive performance and subjective experience across tasks varying in complexity and attentional demand. Our findings challenge previous findings of enhanced cognitive performance under accelerated clocks and suggest that task demands may have superseded clock speed effects. This study highlights the complexities of subjective time perception, suggesting that effective clock speed manipulations require a more active engagement with temporal cues and tasks of moderate cognitive load. Future research should explore the interaction of attention allocation, task difficulty, and subjective time in shaping cognitive and emotional outcomes.