Brain scans hint why aging speeds time
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Scientists analyzing fMRI data from 577 adults who watched an eight-minute clip ('Bang! You're Dead') from Alfred Hitchcock Presents found that older brains shifted between activity states less often, and those states lasted longer. Using a Greedy State Boundary Search algorithm on Cam-CAN recordings from people aged 18 to 88, the team suggests fewer logged 'events' may make time feel faster with age. Experts note age-related neural dedifferentiation could play a role, while others add that our internal, nonlinear sense of time also matters. The authors say novelty and meaningful social engagement may help time feel fuller in retrospect.
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