Time Consciousness
Dreams, Jokes, and Songs July 31, 2025 DOI: 10.1093/9780198962373.003.0007 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that time as consciously experienced is grounded in neural and cognitive processes, specifically through Neural Binding and Coherence (NBC) theory, in which time cells and memory units are bound with sensory and abstract information to form temporal representations. Proposes that emotions, cultural contexts, and biological rhythms influence time perception, offering an account of phenomena such as time seeming to fly during enjoyment and drag during boredom, and integrates biological, cultural, and physical perspectives on time. |
Abstract
Abstract This chapter explores the role of time in conscious experience through the Neural Binding and Coherence (NBC) theory. It examines how neural mechanisms, such as time cells and memory units, create a biological representation of time, enabling the perception of duration, change, simultaneity, and causality. By binding time cells with sensory and abstract information, the brain forms temporal representations that contribute to understanding the present, past, and future. The chapter investigates how emotions, cultural contexts, and biological rhythms influence time perception, offering insights into phenomena like why time flies during enjoyable activities and drags during boredom. Addressing philosophical and scientific debates on the reality of time, the chapter argues that time, as experienced through consciousness, is rooted in neural and cognitive processes, integrating biology, culture, and physics.