Our findings indicate that sequential dependence in time perception can be influenced by the measurement methods. It is conceivable that the specific task can influence sequential dependence, thus, it is crucial to clarify the tasks’ contributions when interpreting and comparing results to achieve a clearer understanding of observed sequential effects. Unlike visual features, time perception is susceptible to contextual distortions arising from mental states, emotions, or selective attention \cite{Shi2013,Wittmann2009}. Whether these observations in time perception can be generalized to other perceptual domains requires further investigation.

In conclusion, our research revealed assimilation effects in time perception and highlighted a distinctive role of task relevance in shaping sequential effects in time discrimination and reproduction tasks. Specifically, the assimilation effect in the time discrimination task was unaffected by task relevance, while in the time reproduction task, it was notably stronger following the same duration reproduction trials. These results indicate that the sequential bias in time perception appears to be modulated by working memory processes that link sensory representation and decisional templates, resulting in a more pronounced sequential bias when the prior tasks involve relevant time reproduction tasks. Our findings thus imply that a reassessment of the evidence for sequential dependence in the literature may be advisable, taking into account its potential association with the specific nature of the task.