ABSTRACT
Given measurements of reproduced durations, plus a model for time perception, the psychophysical function for time was a power function with a break, or discontinuity. Accordingly it consists of two segments, and features five parameters: the exponent β, the ratio of the unit of the upper segment over the lower segment α, the subjective zeros Φ0ℓ and Φ0u for the lower and the upper segments, respectively, and the position of the break, Φ b . Upper and lower boundaries for the subjective zeros in terms of the other parameters, and the shortest and longest standard durations were derived under the assumption that the segments do not overlap. Differences in β and α could account for differences in reproduced durations observed with (1) low and high sound intensities (β); (2) men and women (α); (3) young and old (α); and (4) African immigrants and native Swedes (β), for which tentative explanations were given. The power function for duration derived for Η. M., an individual with loss of long-term memory, was shown to deviate from functions for healthy subjects (segments overlap and Φ0u is extremely large and negative).
