Earlier Times in Front: Regardless of Comparison Sequence, Temporal Focus or Temporal Relative Span

To conceptualize time, humans systematically anchor abstract temporal relations to spatial schemas, a phenomenon termed spatiotemporal metaphorization. Within sagittal-axis temporal mappings, sequential relations have been widely observed to follow an earlier-front/later-behind mapping cross-linguistically. However, critical gaps persist regarding how three factors- (1) task-induced comparison sequences, (2) individual differences in temporal focus (past vs. future oriented), as well as (3) temporal span scale and temporal relative distance- modulate this mapping. This study investigated Mandarin speakers' sequential space-time mappings through a design that carefully manipulated comparison sequences and temporal spans (age-, hour-, and festival-related terms). Participants' temporal focus was assessed via a standardized temporal focus questionnaire. Results demonstrated robust adherence to the earlier-front/later-behind mapping across all conditions: neither comparison sequence, temporal span, nor temporal focus significantly influenced response congruency. These findings suggest that sequential temporal mappings operate through an allocentric reference frame, independent of egocentric perspective-taking. However, the mechanism underlying sequential temporal relationship remains unclear, demanding more future studies This study may have practical implications for intelligence systems in the fields of human-like temporal reasoning and intelligent control systems.