Science of Perception Box
Is Time Real? How Your Brain Perceives the Past with Dr. Lila Davachi
Mar 6, 2025
In a fascinating discussion, Dr. Lila Davachi, a leading neuroscientist from Columbia University, delves into the intriguing relationship between time, memory, and perception. She reveals how emotions significantly shape our memories and our understanding of the past. The conversation explores how we can control memories, the therapeutic potential of memory reappraisal, and how monotony affects our time perception. Listeners will be captivated by the psychological implications of altered time experiences and personal anecdotes that shed light on the quest for meaning.
44:30
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Quick takeaways
- Time perception is subjective and can be influenced by emotional states, affecting how we encode and retrieve memories.
- The differentiation between positive and negative experiences shows that emotions shape memory formation and future recall processes significantly.
Deep dives
The Fluidity of Time and Memory
Time perception is revealed to be more subjective than objective, influenced by our focus and mental context. Experiences that are rich and varied can stretch or compress our sense of time, making brief moments feel elongated during high-stress situations. The hippocampus plays a crucial role in how memories are formed, with significant emotional experiences impacting how the brain encodes time. Research shows that during heightened emotional states, such as fear, time can feel like it slows down, allowing for greater attention to detail.
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