Subjective time estimation by humans is increased by counterclockwise but not clockwise circumcerebral rotations of phase-shifting magnetic pulses in the horizontal plane.

Volunteers were required to estimate 10-s intervals after 2.5 min exposures to each of six different patterns of complex magnetic fields. The approximately 10 microT fields were applied sequentially through eight solenoids that were arranged circumcerebrally (every 45 deg) at the level of the temporoorbital plane. There were three rates of change for the circumcerebral rotations whose durations ranged between about 200 and 2000 ms. Successive additions of 20 ms of the complex fields during the counterclockwise circumcerebral rotation at each solenoid distended subjective time most effectively. Subjective time of the group who received these counterclockwise rotations was about 3 s longer than the group who received the clockwise rotations (explaining approximately 50% of the variance). The results are consistent with the model that the temporal binding for experience, most likely a feature of the rostrocaudal waves recreated every approximately 20 ms over the cerebral cortices, can be modified by weak magnetic fields whose spatial direction and temporal complexity are designed to interact with this process.