The Reasons Why Time Seems to Pass Faster as We Age.

In just a month, the new year will arrive, and with it, another year begins. As many people feel, it seems that time passes faster as we get older. Let's explore the reasons behind this.

 

Firstly, we perceive changes in our environment and the passage of time through our senses. We collect information using senses like sight, hearing, and smell, and integrate them to organize events in chronological order. This is the flow of time that we experience.

 

In conclusion, the perception of time passing faster as we age is related to functional changes in the brain.

 

The perception of time passing faster as we age is primarily related to the "intensity of memory." When the secretion of the pleasure hormone dopamine in the brain decreases, the stimuli transmitted in the neural circuit weaken, making it harder to form "strong memories." As a result, weaker memories accumulate, giving the sensation that time passes faster compared to when strong memories are being organized. This is similar to the feeling of time flying by when everyday routines repeat. The brain tends to remember interesting or shocking experiences for a long time, but doesn't react as strongly in familiar, everyday situations.

 

On the contrary, children may feel that time passes slowly for a different reason. The processing speed of information in children's brains is faster. They take in a larger amount of information in the same amount of time, making time feel slower compared to adults. To put it in analogy, adults experience fewer frames per second, causing time to pass in the blink of an eye, while children experience more frames per second, making time feel slower like a slow-motion camera.

 

In conclusion, the perception of time passing faster as we age is related to functional changes in the brain. With this understanding, we can live a more meaningful and enjoyable life.