ABSTRACT
During the interaction with a complex system an operator typically overestimates intervals filled with ongoing cognitive demands and underestimates intervals without additional cognitive demands. This chapter aims to test the hypothesis that time estimations made under temporarily demanding conditions reflect a different mechanisms of temporal duration processing than estimations made under conditions of permanent additional demands. Experienced duration increases to the extent that a person allocates more attentional resources to processing temporal information. The analysis of interruption latencies showed significant differences only between empty and divided interval conditions. However, the existence of different timing mechanisms in divided and filled intervals could not be demonstrated yet.
