TED Radio Hour: How We Experience Time

Host: Manoush Zomorodi
Release Date: May 16, 2025

In this captivating episode of the TED Radio Hour, host Manoush Zomorodi delves into the intricate ways humans perceive and experience time. Through engaging discussions with artists, neuroscientists, and psychologists, the episode explores the multifaceted nature of time perception, its relationship with our biology, and its influence on our daily lives.

1. Artistic Explorations of Deep Time

Speaker: Katie Patterson
Timestamp: [00:55] – [13:30]

Katie Patterson, an innovative artist, introduces her profound projects that bridge human perception with the vastness of geological and cosmic time.

• Microphone in a Melting Glacier ([01:50] – [04:10]): Patterson recounts her 2007 project in Iceland, where she installed a microphone deep within the Vatnajökull Glacier. The glacier, which has existed since the last ice age over 100,000 years ago, serves as a living testament to deep time.

  “We collapsed the distance in the time between us and our human earthly time. And this ancient melting, thawing glacier that's existed for so long but yet is melting so much faster than ever just now.”
  — Irena Arslanova [02:25]

  The initiative allowed global listeners to hear the melting glacier in real-time, emphasizing the accelerated pace of climate change.

• Earth Moon Earth Project ([05:12] – [08:28]): Patterson describes her ambitious project to beam Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata" to the moon and back using Moon Bounce technology. Translated into Morse code, the sonata's fragmented return symbolizes the fragility and impermanence of sound traveling through space.

  “What you hear now is the sonata, but with little bits kind of missing. That at first is very subtle, but by the end of the piece, you're hearing, like, whole chords that are gone.”
  — Irena Arslanova [07:50]

• There Lay the Days Between ([08:35] – [13:30]): This piece features a ticker board displaying the number of sunrises since Earth's inception, currently at 2 trillion. Collaborating with astronomers, Patterson created a comprehensive number that accounts for all previous and future sunrises.

  “It's like a flipping alarm clock, but it's telling you the kind of cosmic time of the Earth's history.”
  — Irena Arslanova [10:00]

  The artwork confronts viewers with the enormity of Earth's timeline, fostering a deeper connection to the planet's enduring existence.

2. The Neuroscience of Time Perception

Speaker: Irena Arslanova
Timestamp: [16:08] – [25:57]

Cognitive neuroscientist Irena Arslanova explores how our brains interpret time through interoception—the brain's ability to sense internal bodily signals.

• Interoception and the Heart-Brain Connection ([16:18] – [19:21]): Arslanova explains that the heart communicates with the brain through rhythmic signals. Each heartbeat influences how we perceive the passage of time, balancing between action and perception.

  “The activity of the heart itself shapes the activity of the brain.”
  — Irena Arslanova [17:08]

• Experimental Insights ([20:03] – [25:08]): In her study with 67 volunteers, Arslanova demonstrated that stimuli presented during heartbeats were perceived as shorter in duration compared to those between beats. This finding underscores the embodied nature of time perception.

  “Perception of time is an embodied experience.”
  — Irena Arslanova [21:23]

  She suggests that mindfulness and focusing on internal bodily states, like taking deep breaths, can influence our perception of time, making it feel slower and more manageable.

3. Enhancing Time Experience Through Music

Speaker: Robert Franz
Timestamp: [27:03] – [46:11]

Robert Franz, the music director of the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, shares his strategies to help audiences engage deeply with classical music, thereby altering their perception of time.

• Bob's Four Tools for Active Listening ([28:31] – [46:11]): Franz introduces Bob's Four Tools—Rhythm, Melody, Texture, and Visuals—designed to foster active engagement with music.

  • Rhythm ([30:01] – [32:12]):
    By comparing rhythms that align or clash with our heartbeats, Franz helps listeners understand their physiological responses to different musical pieces.

    “That's exactly right. Yeah. Bach.”
    — Katie Patterson [32:12]

  • Melody ([36:25] – [39:21]):
    Franz emphasizes the importance of memorable melodies in shaping our emotional experience of music, highlighting Tchaikovsky's work as exemplary.

  • Texture ([39:33] – [42:35]):
    He describes texture as the blending of different musical "colors," creating a dynamic soundscape that captivates the listener's imagination.

  • Visuals ([42:35] – [46:11]):
    Observing the orchestra's non-verbal communication enhances the immersive experience, making the passage of time during a concert feel almost effortless.

    “Active listening is the key to so many great challenges that we face.”
    — Katie Patterson [44:53]

  Through these tools, Franz illustrates how intentional listening can make musical experiences more enriching and temporally immersive.

4. Time Perspectives and Human Behavior

Speaker: Philip Zimbardo
Timestamp: [46:43] – [52:59]

The episode concludes with a tribute to the late Psychologist Philip Zimbardo, renowned for his work on time perspective and the Stanford Prison Experiment. Zimbardo's insights into how individuals perceive time reveal its profound influence on behavior and decision-making.

• Understanding Time Perspectives ([48:33] – [52:59]): Zimbardo categorizes time perspectives into past, present, and future orientations, each with positive and negative facets. He advocates for a balanced approach to optimize personal well-being and societal functioning.

  “Many of life's puzzles can be solved by understanding your time perspective and that of others.”
  — Philip Zimbardo [48:57]

  His work underscores the significance of temporal balance in achieving happiness, productivity, and effective interpersonal relationships.

Conclusion

This episode of TED Radio Hour masterfully intertwines artistic endeavors, scientific research, and psychological theories to illuminate the complex ways humans experience time. From the slow melting of ancient glaciers to the rapid perception shifts influenced by our heartbeats, the discussions offer a comprehensive exploration of time's role in shaping our lives and our understanding of the universe.

“When you go into that concert hall and hear that orchestra play, bring a sense of curiosity and those active listening skills and boom, away you'll go.”
— Robert Franz [46:11]

Listeners are encouraged to adopt active engagement strategies in their daily experiences, fostering a deeper connection with the temporal dimensions of their existence.

Notable Quotes:

1. Irena Arslanova [02:25]:
   “We collapsed the distance in the time between us and our human earthly time.”

2. Irena Arslanova [07:50]:
   “What you hear now is the sonata, but with little bits kind of missing.”

3. Irena Arslanova [21:23]:
   “Perception of time is an embodied experience.”

4. Katie Patterson [44:53]:
   “Active listening is the key to so many great challenges that we face.”

5. Philip Zimbardo [48:57]:
   “Many of life's puzzles can be solved by understanding your time perspective and that of others.”

This summary encapsulates the essence of the episode, offering a structured overview of the key discussions and insights on time perception. Whether through art, neuroscience, music, or psychology, the episode invites listeners to reflect on their relationship with time and consider strategies to enrich their temporal experiences.