Self Referencing and Self Projecting

 Within the context of multisensory integration, self-referencing and self-projecting skills play important roles in our perception of time. 

• Self-Referencing:  general capacity of using one's own position in time to estimate/situate events in time. This skill relies on internal cues such as memory and self-awareness to place events within a temporal framework. By referencing our own experiences and the temporal context in which they occurred, we can make sense of the timing and sequence of events in our environment.
• Self-Projecting: ability to mentally move back and forward in time, maintaining the competence of correctly situating events in time. This skill allows us to anticipate future events, plan our actions, and make decisions based on the temporal context. Self-projecting skill involves mental time travel, where we can mentally simulate and project ourselves into different points in time, drawing upon past experiences and knowledge to predict and shape future events.

Both self-referencing and self-projecting skills are closely intertwined with our sensory experiences. Our senses provide us with temporal information through various cues. For example, visual stimuli provide temporal cues through motion and changes in spatial patterns, while auditory stimuli provide temporal cues through changes in pitch, intensity, and rhythm. By integrating these sensory cues with our self-referencing and self-projecting abilities, we can accurately perceive and situate events in time.

Depersonalisation Disorder

 Depersonalisation Disorder (DPD) is a condition characterized by distressing feelings of being 'spaced out', detached from one's self, body, and the world, as well as atypical 'flat' time perception. Individuals describe feeling as if they are observing themselves from a distance. In addition there are often alterations in perception, including disruptions in the perception of time.

DP is the third most common psychological symptom in the general population (after anxiety and low mood).

Research findings on DP and atypical time perception,

• Distorted perception of time: Research indicate a tendency to overestimate the duration of time intervals, perceiving time as slower than it actually is which can contribute to the overall sense of detachment and disconnection (Simeon et al., 2008; Sierra & David, 2011)
• Neural correlates of time perception in depersonalization: fMRI studies shown differences in brain activity and connectivity patterns in regions associated with time processing, such as the prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. (Lemche et al., 2007; Simeon et al., 2013)
• Role of attentional processes: Studies show difficulties in allocating attention appropriately, leading to a reduced ability to accurately perceive and process temporal information. (Ainley et al., 2017; Segal & Lynn, 2019)
• Emotional factors: Studies have found that emotional states, such as anxiety and stress, can modulate time perception, leading to temporal distortions. Individuals with DP often experience heightened levels of anxiety and emotional distress, which may contribute to their altered perception of time. (Simeon et al., 2008; Sierra & David, 2011)

Caveat: This is a complex phenomena and further research is needed to fully understand their underlying mechanisms.

References
Simeon, D., Guralnik, O., Schmeidler, J., Sirof, B., Knutelska, M., & Hollander, E. (2008). The role of childhood interpersonal trauma in depersonalization disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 165(7), 897-903.
Sierra, M., & David, A. S. (2011). Depersonalization: A selective impairment of self-awareness. Consciousness and Cognition, 20(1), 99-108.
Lemche, E., Anilkumar, A. P., Giampietro, V. P., Brammer, M. J., Surguladze, S. A., Lawrence, N., ... & Phillips, M. L. (2007). Cerebral and autonomic responses to emotional facial expressions in depersonalization disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 191(6), 531-539.
Simeon, D., Gross, S., Guralnik, O., Stein, D. J., Schmeidler, J., & Hollander, E. (2013). Temporal lobe structure abnormalities in depersonalization disorder. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 47(7), 893-897.
Ainley, V., Maister, L., Brokfeld, J., Farmer, H., & Tsakiris, M. (2017). More of myself: Manipulating interoceptive awareness by heightened attention to bodily and narrative aspects of the self. Consciousness and Cognition, 49, 289-301.
Segal, E. R., & Lynn, S. J. (2019). Time perception in dissociative disorders: A meta-analysis. Consciousness and Cognition, 71, 64-76.