Research

In my research I am looking at the phenomena of time and aging from different perspectives.

On one hand, I am interested in the abstract thinking and reasoning about time in terms of spatial conceptual mappings. On the other hand, I seek to understand the impact that our future time perspective (an important aspect of aging) has on our judgment and decision making processes.

Time - The Concept...

How do we think about the abstract concept of time? And how do we understand abstract concepts in general?

Time-Space Mappings and Metaphors

One way to address this question is to look at conceptual metaphors. For example, it is possible to think of time as being a stationary landscape, through which we move (e.g., “we are approaching the deadline”), or to think of ourselves as being stationary, and of time as moving past us (e.g., “the deadline is approaching”). This mapping in which spatial terms are used to describe time is a very pervasive conventional metaphor, and may be due to our embodied experience in the world, as well as due to the structure of our brains.

Synesthetic connections between time and space: calendars and historical maps

Another way of addressing the question of how we conceptualize time is to look at a special form of synesthesia (synesthesia is the stable and consistent experience some people have of cross-modal associations). Some people report that they see spatial forms for days of the week and months of the year. Studies on these cognitive or perceptual maps may help to elucidate the connection between synesthesia and other cross-modal associations, like metaphorical thinking. Furthermore, studies on these specific synesthetic experiences may help us understand whether there is a neurological basis of our tendency to understand time in terms of space.

We are looking for research participants with synesthetic numberlines or calendars! Do you have specific forms or lines in mind if you think about sequences of numbers or events in time? Say, if you think about a certain number, or a month of the year, or a day of the week, or a historical event, do you see or imagine these events consistently as specific locations, or on a specifically shaped path? Maybe you do, but have always considered this as the normal way people think about these things? Well it's not, it's actually quite a rare phenomenon, and if you feel that you are thinking about some sequences in always the same spatial way, I would be very interested in knowing more about your personal experience. We are currently conducting a research study at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, for which you may qualify as a participant. Just drop me an e-mail: teuscherunm.edu, call (858) 200 6887, or fill in this contact form. Note - the contact form also includes a short test on how you visualize the months of the year; it takes about 5 minutes to complete.

Time Perspective and Decision-Making How does our time perspective affect our experiences, judgments and preferences? Additionally to the understanding of how we think about the concept of time, I am interested in the effect of people’s time perspective with regard to their future. Humans have the capability to monitor time and anticipate the future. Probably unlike any other animal, we are even aware of our own death. Also, important transitions in life, such as geographic moves, career moves, or retirement, may heighten a sense of ending. I am investigating how people’s future time horizons may affect their decisions, or the way they experience a situation.