Research archive · Completed study
Time perception & autism
A three-year ESRC-funded investigation of timing processes and experiences in autistic adults.
Study completed · Recruitment closedRead related publications
Examining timing from several perspectives.
This research brought together the Time Perception Lab and Manchester’s Body, Eyes and Movement (BEAM) Lab, with support from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
The programme combined experimental timing tasks, computational modelling, questionnaires and interviews to investigate the perception and everyday experience of time in autistic and non-autistic adults.
The experimental work addressed duration judgements, temporal ordering and broader questions about timing in daily life. Results and related papers are listed on the publications page.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed their time and experiences.
About the completed study
Background & study information
What is Autism?
Autism is life-long condition which affects how a person experiences and interacts with the world. Autism is relatively common. It is currently believed that around 1 in 100 people are autistic.
Autistic people may communicate differently to those who are non-autistic (neurotypical) and they may have a greater need for routine in day to day life. There are a range of other differences in autism, including the function of the senses (e.g. vision, touch and hearing), which can lead to overwhelming experiences.
Autistic people may communicate differently to those who are non-autistic (neurotypical) and they may have a greater need for routine in day to day life. There are a range of other differences in autism, including the function of the senses (e.g. vision, touch and hearing), which can lead to overwhelming experiences.
Time Perception in Autism
"for me, a problem with sequencing is also about sense of time and the continuity (or lack of it) in my sense of personal history..."
Williams (1996) Autism: An Inside Out Approach (pg 165)
Williams (1996) Autism: An Inside Out Approach (pg 165)
The above quote from autistic author Donna Williams suggests at problems with the perception of time. Indeed, the use of visual supports, such as time tables, are common in helping autistic people to prepare for what is going to happen to them during the day:
In addition to the examples given above, the ability to orientate oneself in time, anticipate the duration and occurrence of events, and to plan for the future and reflect on the past, are crucial for behaviour and social interaction. If the perception and understanding of time is affected in autism, then it is likely to impact on many aspects of a person’s day-to-day functioning.
View original participant information (historical)
We are have now finished collecting data for this current study and are in the process of publishing the results. But we will leave this page up to provide background information of what we have investigaed and how. You can find a list of our publications here (including the ones arising from this study). We would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to everyone who took part in the study and gave up their time so generously.
Below is the old stufy information, the data collection is now over.
We are running research study investigating the perception and experiences of time in autism. This project is a collaboration between Time Perception Lab director Dr Luke Jones, and Dr Ellen Poliakoff and Dr Emma Gowen from the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab.
The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Dr Daniel Poole and Martin Casassus are working on the project, which is running until 2020.
Click the icon below to view the study Facebook page
Below is the old stufy information, the data collection is now over.
We are running research study investigating the perception and experiences of time in autism. This project is a collaboration between Time Perception Lab director Dr Luke Jones, and Dr Ellen Poliakoff and Dr Emma Gowen from the Body Eyes and Movement (BEAM) lab.
The project is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. Dr Daniel Poole and Martin Casassus are working on the project, which is running until 2020.
Click the icon below to view the study Facebook page
What is the current project?
We are running a comprehensive investigation of timing in autism. We are including lab based experimental tasks, computational modelling, questionnaires and interviews to improve our understanding of time perception and timing processes in autism. We are also investigating how problems with timing (if they exist) relate to other features of autism. We hope that this project will improve the characterisation of this fundamental process in autistic people and may lead to the development of effective strategies to improve their lives.
We are currently recruiting participants to our first study. This will involve completing tasks requiring judgements about the timing of beeps and flashes. Participants will also be asked to complete brief questionnaires about their everyday experiences.
We have prepared a brief video to explain what is involved when taking part in this study:
We are currently recruiting participants to our first study. This will involve completing tasks requiring judgements about the timing of beeps and flashes. Participants will also be asked to complete brief questionnaires about their everyday experiences.
We have prepared a brief video to explain what is involved when taking part in this study:
We are recruiting adults with a diagnosis of autism, and non-autistic adults who are a similar age, sex and IQ as our autistic sample to take part in the control group, who are:
For more information, please contact us:
- aged between 18-45
- have normal or corrected vision and hearing (glasses are OK)
- native English speakers who are able to read written English and communicate verbally in English
- (of the non-autistic control group participants only) have no relatives in their immediate family with a diagnosis of autism
For more information, please contact us:
Original study information video
Watch on YouTube ↗Event archive
Explore the event Time and Autism webinar · 2021
Talks, personal experiences and a discussion of future research directions.