Is time perception solely influenced by time dilation?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the misconception that time perception is solely influenced by time dilation. It highlights that while adrenaline can affect the perception of time during the fight or flight response, the speed of neural impulses is significantly slower than the speed of light, undermining the analogy of consciousness as a moving spark on a circuit board. The consensus is that this theory lacks scientific validity and does not align with established neuroscience principles. The thread was locked due to its non-compliance with forum guidelines regarding the discussion of non-mainstream theories.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of neural impulse speed and its implications on perception.
  • Familiarity with the fight or flight response and its physiological effects.
  • Knowledge of the differences between electrical conduction in wires and neural signaling.
  • Awareness of scientific discourse standards, particularly regarding peer-reviewed research.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the physiological mechanisms of the fight or flight response.
  • Study the speed of neural impulses in various types of nerve fibers.
  • Explore the principles of consciousness in neuroscience.
  • Review the guidelines for discussing scientific theories in academic forums.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for neuroscientists, psychology students, and anyone interested in the scientific understanding of time perception and consciousness.

petm1
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Can the way we perceive time be explained by time dilation? When you think of our consciousness as being the motion of the spark(s) moving around on the circuit board we call our brain, the only part of ourselves that is moving at near c. Add a little adrenaline which increases the conductivity of the nerve cells there by increasing the relative motion of the spark(s) within us, and you have time appearing to slow for the individual or what is known as the fight or flight reflex.
 
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Given that the brain is not a circuit board, and that nerve impulses travel at a slow crawl relative to the speed of light

see for instance http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2002/DavidParizh.shtml

"Depending on the type of fiber, the neural impulse travels at speed ranging from a sluggish 2 miles per hour to, in some myelinated fibers, a breackneck 200 or more miles per hour. But even this top speed is 3 million times slower than the speed of electricity through a wire."

I think we can safely say that the idea does not hold even the smallest amount of water. (I hope nobody takes offense, that's my attempt at an honest analysis).

Even if nerve impulses traveled considerably faster than they do, assigning consciousness as having a definite location in the brain, a location that "moves around" seems to be a very dubious idea.

I'm going to lock the thread because it seems to me that it doesn't meet our PF guidelines.

It is against our Posting Guidelines to discuss, in most of the PF forums, new or non-mainstream theories or ideas that have not been published in professional peer-reviewed journals or are not part of current professional mainstream scientific discussion.
 
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