Lecture 7 Flashcards
What is chronoception?
Chronoception is the perception of time, including our ability to estimate time durations and organize events in chronological order.
How does THC affect time estimation, and why do individuals tend to underestimate the duration of tasks under its influence?
THC, the active compound in cannabis, tends to increase time estimation, making individuals perceive that time has passed more slowly than it actually has. As a result, when asked to hold something for a specific duration, people often underestimate the time it takes.
Why does time seem to slow down during life-threatening situations?
Time appears to slow down during life-threatening situations due to heightened brain activity and accelerated processing of sensory information, creating a subjective experience of time dilation.
What is chronostasis, and why does it affect the perception of time?
Chronostasis is a time perception phenomenon where time may seem to momentarily stop or elongate. It occurs when rapid eye movements disrupt the flow of visual information, and the brain compensates by altering the perception of time.
How does the hippocampus play a role in time perception, and what are “time cells”?
The hippocampus is involved in time perception and memory. It contains specialized neurons known as “time cells” that fire at specific intervals during experiences. These cells help the brain encode the temporal aspects of memories, allowing us to recall when events occurred.
What is Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET)?
Scalar Expectancy Theory (SET) is a psychological theory that explains how humans perceive and process time intervals. It proposes the existence of an internal clock and memory-based pulse accumulation to estimate the duration of time intervals. - Gibbons
How does the brain represent time
If time perception depends on pacemaker activity in neural systems
then will perception will be altered by changes in pacemaker speed
Yes, like with THC
How might neural trajectories be related to the perception of time?
Neural trajectories are reproducible sequences of activation within a population of neurons. Changes in the speed or trajectory of these activations could influence the perception of time.
How does emotional arousal impact memory?
Memory depends on emotional arousal and content. Strong emotional experiences are more likely to be remembered.
Explain the relationship between cortisol, memory, and stress.
Cortisol, a stress hormone, can affect memory. High cortisol levels can impair memory, and long-term stress can shrink the hippocampus, leading to poorer memory.
What is the Yerkes-Dodson law, and how does it relate to stress and memory?
The Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that there is an optimal level of stress for memory performance, and individuals vary in their stress tolerance. Too much or too little stress can impair memory.
Why do people like H.M. with amnesia have difficulties estimating time or recalling the order of events, and what is the role of time cells in the hippocampus?
Damage to the hippocampus, which contains time cells, disrupts the ability to estimate time and recall the order of events in individuals with amnesia like H.M.
How do animal studies suggest that memory can be enhanced, and what are the naturally occurring compounds that produce similar effects in humans?
Animal studies indicate that memory can be enhanced by administering low doses of CNS stimulants shortly after training, but not after a delay period. In humans, naturally occurring compounds such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol can produce similar memory-enhancing effects.
What is adrenaline, and where is it produced in the body?
Adrenaline is a hormone and neurotransmitter produced in the adrenal medulla, which is the inner portion of the adrenal gland.
