Sunday, January 24, 2010
Time, as we perceive it
By Ivan Ling
Time seems constant to human perception whether we like it or not.
Our brain is the core processor of our whole being.
The brain works by a series of electrical charge moving in our brain.
These are called nerve impulses, without it, we could not exist.
It is possible to say that somewhere within this impulses lies our soul.
Why do time seems constant to us?
Well, we perceive time because of our brain and nerve impulses.
If, for example, time stops for a minute.
Then, the electrical impulse that carries the information will also be halted.
As a result, we could not think or move or even perceive anything when time is stopped.
Thus, when time starts to move again, the impulses will start moving as if it was never stopped.
We, in turn, will carry on doing our business like nothing had happened
because we did not perceive the time gap.
There is another thought experiment that I like to carry out every night.
What if, I mean if, someday scientist discovered drugs
that speeds up the impulses of our brain?
What will the person feel?
By speeding up brain impulses, the person does not get smarter.
In fact, to make a person smarter, you'll need to expand his brain,
not speeding it up.
Okay, by speeding up a person's brain, he can THINK much faster.
As a matter of fact, he can perceive things much faster than usual.
This will cause him to perceive time as passing slower than usual.
To him, everything moves in slow motion.
To illustrate this example,
lets us look at the statement
"Time passes quickly when you have fun"
When you are having fun, lets say, playing games.
your brain is completely used up in playing the game.
Therefore, it loses the power to perceive time as it was.
In technical jargon, we say that the impulses are moving
at a slower rate than usual.
What happens when the person is bored?
Okay, it is the direct opposite of what happens above.
When a person is bored,
his brain is at a more relaxed state.
This means that his impulses are galloping
at a much faster speed.
In short, time seems longer to him.
By Ivan Ling
Time seems constant to human perception whether we like it or not.
Our brain is the core processor of our whole being.
The brain works by a series of electrical charge moving in our brain.
These are called nerve impulses, without it, we could not exist.
It is possible to say that somewhere within this impulses lies our soul.
Why do time seems constant to us?
Well, we perceive time because of our brain and nerve impulses.
If, for example, time stops for a minute.
Then, the electrical impulse that carries the information will also be halted.
As a result, we could not think or move or even perceive anything when time is stopped.
Thus, when time starts to move again, the impulses will start moving as if it was never stopped.
We, in turn, will carry on doing our business like nothing had happened
because we did not perceive the time gap.
There is another thought experiment that I like to carry out every night.
What if, I mean if, someday scientist discovered drugs
that speeds up the impulses of our brain?
What will the person feel?
By speeding up brain impulses, the person does not get smarter.
In fact, to make a person smarter, you'll need to expand his brain,
not speeding it up.
Okay, by speeding up a person's brain, he can THINK much faster.
As a matter of fact, he can perceive things much faster than usual.
This will cause him to perceive time as passing slower than usual.
To him, everything moves in slow motion.
To illustrate this example,
lets us look at the statement
"Time passes quickly when you have fun"
When you are having fun, lets say, playing games.
your brain is completely used up in playing the game.
Therefore, it loses the power to perceive time as it was.
In technical jargon, we say that the impulses are moving
at a slower rate than usual.
What happens when the person is bored?
Okay, it is the direct opposite of what happens above.
When a person is bored,
his brain is at a more relaxed state.
This means that his impulses are galloping
at a much faster speed.
In short, time seems longer to him.
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