Our ability to track time is crucial for perceiving and responding to the world around us. It is an evolutionary product that has developed over millions of years. The significance of time perception extends beyond humans to the animal kingdom as well. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh conducted experiments with hummingbirds, discovering their ability to estimate time intervals between nectar refills. Similarly, scientists at the University of Georgia found that rats could be conditioned to wait for specific periods before receiving a reward.
For decades, psychologists believed that our brains possessed a biological stopwatch mechanism, generating regular pulses that counted time. This model explained the variability in our perception of time during different experiences. However, recent scientific findings challenge this view, revealing that the brain does not rely on a single clock-like mechanism. Neuroscientist Dean Buonomano from UCLA proposes that the brain perceives time in fractions of a second by observing patterns of neuron activity, akin to ripples on a pond.
For longer time intervals, Warren Meck of Duke University suggests that the brain uses pulses as a musical model. These pulses are received by medium spiny neurons, which listen to the changing patterns and provide a sense of elapsed time. Support for Meck’s model comes from experiments involving neurotransmitters such as dopamine, which influence pulse-generating neurons. Drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine, known to affect dopamine levels, alter our perception of time. Interestingly, the brain’s perception of time is also influenced by emotional factors, as seen in experiments involving angry and neutral faces.
Moreover, the brain’s perception of time is not limited to the present moment. The process of eye movement seems to backdate our mental timeline, enabling our brains to create a coherent and seamless perception of reality. Additionally, our ability to recall events is intertwined with our memory of time. Research suggests that the brain stores memories of time in unique ways, potentially compressing them for efficient retrieval. MIT researchers also discovered reverse memories in rats, where neurons fired in reverse order during recall, possibly serving a goal-oriented purpose.
In conclusion, our perception of time is complex and multifaceted. While we are not free from the passage of time, we possess the ability to manipulate and adapt it to suit our needs. Time, ultimately, is a tool we employ to navigate and make sense of the world around us. Through ongoing scientific investigations, we continue to uncover the intricate mechanisms that shape our perception of time.
Comprehension
1) What did researchers at the University of Edinburgh discover about hummingbirds and their perception of time?
2) How does neuroscientist Dean Buonomano propose that the brain perceives time in fractions of a second?
3) How do emotional factors, such as angry and neutral faces, influence the brain’s perception of time according to the article?
Vocabulary
Match the words to the definition:
1) crucial
2) akin to
3) elapsed
4) seamless
5) intertwined
6) intricate
a) the amount of time that has passed
b) detailed
c) similar to
d) without break or disruption
e) very important
f) connected
Grammar Highlights
Do NOT repeat the subject of a relative clause if it is the same as the object of the previous clause:
“It is an evolutionary product that has developed over millions of years.”
“It is an evolutionary product that it (the evolutionary product) has developed over millions of years.”
Use “ing” form after prepositions
“…rats could be conditioned to wait for specific periods before receiving a reward.”
*This article was adapted from another article to make it more suitable for English learners. You can read the original article here.