Richer Memories create a time warp in our perception

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Our perception of time is influenced by the richness of our memories. During intense or emotional experiences, people lay down more memory, which creates the illusion of time seeming to slow down. However, this is not because they actually perceive time at a faster rate, but rather because they have more detailed memories to recount. In general, we do not remember most things in our lives, as the purpose of memory is to record what is emotionally salient or informationally relevant. When estimating the duration of events, we rely on the footage of memories we have, which leads us to believe that more time has passed when we have richer memories. Therefore, seeking novelty and constantly putting ourselves in new situations is crucial to creating dense memories, making it seem like we have lived longer. Additionally, the perception of time duration can be affected by familiarity. In childhood, when everything is new, time seems to last longer because there are more new experiences to remember, whereas in adulthood, when we have seen it all before, time appears to pass quickly as there are fewer novel memories to recall.

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David Eagleman (@davideagleman) is a neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author, TED speaker, and Guggenheim Fellow. He is the writer and presenter of the Emmy-nominated series The Brain on PBS, as well as the podcast Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman. In Palo Alto, California, he teaches at Stanford University, runs a startup neurotech company called Neosensory, and directs the Center for Science and Law. Dr. Eagleman also runs a film and television production company, Cognito Entertainment, to bring scientific themes (fiction and nonfiction) to the screen. He is the author of eight books, including the international bestsellers Sum, Incognito, and his newest book, Livewired.

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[07:10] Mnemonists and synesthetes.

[12:13] Creating new senses.

[17:39] Practical applications in practice.

[24:36] Five years from now.

[28:26] The curious resilience and vulnerability of memory.

[32:25] Testing the accuracy of memory.

[34:50] Meeting Francis Crick.

[36:25] The dangerous lumberjack.

[39:43] Dream projects.

[41:23] Exploring consciousness.

[44:38] Dreaming and brain plasticity.

[54:13] Influences.