{"id":622,"date":"2023-05-23T13:49:03","date_gmt":"2023-05-23T13:49:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/?page_id=622"},"modified":"2023-05-23T16:27:23","modified_gmt":"2023-05-23T16:27:23","slug":"how-your-brain-can-control-time","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/?page_id=622","title":{"rendered":"How Your Brain Can Control Time"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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B2\/C1 Level<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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B1 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A2 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Our ability to track time is crucial<\/strong> for perceiving and responding to the world around us. It is an evolutionary product that has developed<\/span> 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<\/span> a reward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/strong> to ripples on a pond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/strong> perception of reality. Additionally, our ability to recall events is intertwined<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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<\/strong> mechanisms that shape our perception of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comprehension<\/summary>
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1) What did researchers at the University of Edinburgh discover about hummingbirds and their perception of time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) How does neuroscientist Dean Buonomano propose that the brain perceives time in fractions of a second?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) How do emotional factors, such as angry and neutral faces, influence the brain’s perception of time according to the article?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vocabulary<\/summary>
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Match the words to the definition<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) crucial<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) akin to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) elapsed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) seamless<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) intertwined<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) intricate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) the amount of time that has passed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) detailed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) similar to<\/p>\n\n\n\n

d) without break or disruption<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e) very important<\/p>\n\n\n\n

f) connected<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Grammar Highlights<\/summary>
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Do NOT repeat the subject of a relative clause if it is the same as the object of the previous clause:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an evolutionary product that has developed<\/span> over millions of years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt is an evolutionary product that it (the evolutionary product)<\/s> has developed over millions of years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use \u201cing\u201d form after prepositions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c\u2026rats could be conditioned to wait for specific periods before receiving<\/span> a reward.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

*This article was adapted from another article to make it more suitable for English learners. You can read the original article here<\/a>.<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B2\/C1 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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B1 Level<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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A2 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Understanding time is important for us to make sense of the world around us. Our ability to track time has evolved over millions of years and is not limited to humans alone; animals like hummingbirds and rats also possess this ability. Previously, scientists believed that our brains contained a biological watch mechanism, generating regular pulses<\/strong> that measured time. However, recent<\/strong> scientific discoveries challenge this and suggest that the brain uses multiple mechanisms to measure time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Neuroscientist Dean Buonomano from UCLA proposes a fascinating idea. He suggests that the brain measures time in fractions of a second by observing patterns<\/strong> of neuron activity, similar to throwing a rock in a lake. For longer time intervals, Warren Meck from Duke University suggests that the brain uses pulses in a musical model.  Your brain receives these pulses, listens to the changing patterns, and gives a sense of time that has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interestingly, the brain’s perception of time extends beyond<\/strong> the present moment. The process of eye movement seems<\/strong> to influence our mental timeline, allowing us to create a continuous perception of reality. Additionally, our ability to remember events is connected with our memory of time. Researchers suggest that the brain stores memories of time in unique ways, potentially compressing<\/strong> them to be used more efficiently. Interestingly, reverse memories have been observed in rats, where neurons go in reverse order while remembering a past event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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In conclusion, our perception of time is complicated. While we cannot escape the passing of time, we possess the ability to control it according to our needs. Continuing scientific research continues to discover the detailed mechanisms that shape our perception of time, revealing that time is ultimately a tool we use to navigate and comprehend the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comprehension<\/summary>
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1) Why is our ability to track time important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) What is the traditional belief about how our brains perceive time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) How do neuroscientists Dean Buonomano and Warren Meck propose that the brain perceives time?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vocabulary<\/summary>
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Match the words to the definition<\/span>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) pulses<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) recent<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) patterns<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) beyond<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) seem<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) compress<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) appear, to be like<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) to make smaller to conserve space<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) individual beats in a rhythm<\/p>\n\n\n\n

d) a short time in the past<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e) to go past something<\/p>\n\n\n\n

f) something that repeats itself<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Grammar Highlights<\/summary>
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Use Present Perfect tense to focus on events in the past that are still true or happening now:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur ability to track time has evolved<\/span> over millions of years \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

*This article was adapted from another article to make it more suitable for English learners. You can read the original article here<\/a>.<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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B2\/C1 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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B1 Level<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A2 Level<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Understanding time is important for knowing what’s happening around us. It’s not just humans who can do it, but animals like hummingbirds and rats too. Scientists used to think<\/span> our brains<\/strong> had a clock inside, making regular beats<\/strong> to measure<\/strong> time. But new discoveries show that our brains have different ways to measure time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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One scientist named Dean Buonomano thinks our brains measure very short time periods by looking at how our brain cells act, like small waves<\/strong> in a lake.  Another scientist named Warren Meck says our brains use pulses, like beats in music, to measure longer time periods. Our brains listen to these pulses and figure out<\/strong> how much time has passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our brains also do more than just measure time in the present. When we move our eyes, our brain changes how it sees time. Our memory is connected to time too. Scientists say our brains store<\/strong> memories of time in special ways, making them smaller and easier to remember. They even saw in rats that memories can play in reverse order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So, time is tricky to understand. We can’t stop it, but we can use it for our needs. Scientists are still learning<\/span> about how our brains understand time. Time is like a tool we use to understand the world around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Comprehension<\/summary>
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1) Why is understanding time important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) What are some ways that our brains measure time according to the article<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) How is our memory connected to our perception of time?<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Vocabulary<\/summary>
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Match the words to the definition:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) Brain<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) Beat<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) Measure<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) Waves<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) Figure out<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) Store (verb)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a) The organ inside your head you use to think<\/p>\n\n\n\n

b) to save something<\/p>\n\n\n\n

c) solve or find the answer<\/p>\n\n\n\n

d) Using a tool to find how much of something there is<\/p>\n\n\n\n

e) water that goes up and down in the ocean<\/p>\n\n\n\n

f) Individual sounds in a rhythm<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Grammar Highlights<\/summary>
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Use \u201cused to + verb\u201d to show past routines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScientists used to think<\/span> our brains had a clock inside\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Put adverbs between the auxiliary verb and the main verb:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cScientists are still learning<\/span> about how our brains understand time.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

*This article was adapted from another article to make it more suitable for English learners. You can read the original article here<\/a>.<\/sub><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

B2\/C1 Level B1 Level A2 Level 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"hide_page_title":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-622","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/622","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=622"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/622\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":647,"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/622\/revisions\/647"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineenglishcafe.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=622"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}