Lapsed attention to elapsed time? Individual differences in working memory capacity and temporal reproduction

Working memory capacity (WMC) predicts individual differences in a wide range of mental abilities. In three experiments we examined whether WMC would predict temporal judgment. Low-WMC temporal reproductions were consistently too long for the shortest duration and too short for the longest, but were accurate (unbiased) for the intermediate. In contrast, high-WMC temporal reproductions were more accurate (unbiased) across the range. Thus low-WMC showed a classic “migration effect” (Vierordt's Law) to a greater extent than high-WMC. Furthermore reproduction errors depended more on temporal context than the absolute durations of “shortest,” “longest,” and “intermediate.” Low-WMC reproductions were overall more variable than high-WMC. General fluid intelligence (gF) was also related to temporal bias and variability. However, WMC-related timing differences were only attenuated and not eliminated with gF as covariate. Results are discussed in terms of attention, memory, and other psychological constructs.

Research Highlights► Working memory capacity (WMC) predicted temporal reproductions. ► Low-WMC temporal reproductions showed consistent biases, more so than high-WMC. ► Low WMC reproductions were more variable than high WMC. ► WMC-related timing differences did not depend on general fluid intelligence. ► WMC-related timing differences depended on relative not absolute duration.