Does Cannabis Slow Down Time Perception?
- Studies Explore the Effect of "Marijuana" on Time Perception
- Time Dilation is Especially Experienced by Occasional Users
- Tolerance Plays a Crucial Role in Time Perception Slowdown
The feeling of time slowing down or distorting after consuming a particularly potent cannabis muffin or applying a highly psychoactive strain is familiar to both medical cannabis patients and many recreational users. For some, this sensation can be pleasant, while for others, it can be unsettling.
Since the mechanism of time perception distortion is quite peculiar, scientists have become interested and, as true researchers, conducted a series of tests. What does science say about this intriguing "cannabis phenomenon"?
Official Research on Time Perception Under "Marijuana"
"One of the most frequently described effects by cannabis users is the feeling of time slowing down," explains London psychiatrist Zerrin Atakan, who thoroughly reviewed all studies addressing this phenomenon up to 2012. "Our review of studies on marijuana's effects on users, particularly subjective effects, shows that 70% of users overestimate time passed while under the influence. In other words, time seems to flow more slowly to them."
However, it's important to note that most of these studies suffer from certain limitations such as insufficient sample size, consideration of participants' history and cannabis experience, differences in application methods - like vaporization or smoking versus oral administration, which has very different effects - and many other factors worth considering.
These limitations were recognized by a team from Yale Medical School, and later in 2012, this group of researchers decided to dispel the fog surrounding cannabis and "time stumbling".
"The fact that some drugs can distort time perception is absolutely fascinating to me, especially when no one can properly explain it," says Deepak D'Souza, Yale University professor of psychiatry and lead researcher. "What I found particularly interesting was that the vast majority of people experiencing time slowdown described the cannabis effect as undesirable."
The subsequent research involved 44 individuals with varying levels of cannabis experience. Participants were then given either a placebo or a THC dose ranging from 0.015mg/kg to 0.05 mg/kg (intravenous administration).
The first test was a "estimation task", where researchers repeatedly asked participants every 5-30 seconds how much time they thought had passed. To prevent active time counting, subjects had to perform additional distraction activities - such as counting the number of B letters in a given article paragraph. In the second test, subjects performed a similar distraction activity but were asked to hold down a computer key for a predetermined time period.
The results were as follows - subjects under the influence of cannabis overestimated elapsed time by an average of 25% compared to their sober counterparts and held the time-measuring key for 15% less time.
"Cannabis indeed affects time perception - 5 minutes can be perceived as 10, and so on," says project lead D'Souza. "The subjective experience is that external time passes more slowly. However, this effect only occurs when internal time perception accelerates."
Simply put, subjects under THC influence experienced an acceleration of their internal thoughts and subjective perception, making external time flow seem slower. Upon sobering up, this effect always disappeared.
A similar internal clock acceleration effect was observed in animal experiments. In one study from 2001, where chemicals affecting the endocannabinoid system were administered to mice, the results were exactly the same as in later human studies. Similar results were also proven in primate experiments.
What Influences Time Perception Dilation?
How specifically can cannabis influence and accelerate our internal clock?
"It remains quite mysterious, and all hypotheses addressing this phenomenon are merely speculative," states D'Souza.
Nevertheless, other studies show that the integral brain area responsible for proper time perception is the thalamo-cortico-striatal circuit. Moreover, this brain area is known for its high concentration of cannabinoid receptors. The mechanism of flooding the brain with cannabinoids like THC and specifically affecting receptors in this brain area could potentially explain this phenomenon.
Long-term vs. Occasional Cannabis Use
Subsequent analyses of Dr. D'Souza's team show that the time perception effect is more common especially among occasional users compared to more frequent users. Temporarily altered time perception was observed in all occasional users given medium to high doses, while frequent users (consuming 2-3 times weekly or more) were completely immune to this effect.
Scientists attempt to explain these differences through several hypotheses. One suggests that although the euphoric effect remains for frequent users, their receptors are so accustomed to external THC that it no longer affects their normal function or time perception.
Another hypothesis is an intuitive recalibration of internal biological clocks - users become so accustomed to the time slowdown effect that their perception automatically re-calibrates and time perception returns to normal. However, in this case, such individuals would need to spend more time under the influence than in a sober state.
Final Consequences of Cannabis Use and Time Perception Changes
"Proper timing relates to absolutely all actions and behavior," describes Atakan, "Therefore, cannabis use could be quite dangerous in certain situations. Many everyday tasks, such as simply crossing the street, require precise time perception."
While cannabis can be seen as a pleasant "day extender" from one perspective, certain risks must be considered. "Changes in internal time perception can be quite dangerous, for example, if a person is operating technology requiring careful attention. For this reason, every user should account for this time perception factor and apply cannabis only in suitable, safe situations."
Ultimately, despite numerous studies addressing this phenomenon, we are still very, very far from a more comprehensive understanding of the entire matter. Time perception and time itself remain a mystery even without added THC.
As doctor Atakan states: "We simply lack enough studies to be able to thoroughly explain the entire issue. To confidently understand cannabis's effect on time perception, we need to continue developing and applying more rigorous research methods."
In the future, scientists plan to more thoroughly scan brain areas reportedly responsible for time perception.
Such a future might be quite far away... or does it just seem that way to you?
Author: Adam Hoffman
Translation: Filip Maral