Scientists Reveal Why Time Goes in Slow-Mo When Staring Death in the Face
Key Highlights :
When faced with a life-threatening situation, people often report that time seems to slow down. Now, scientists believe they have uncovered why this happens. According to a recent report by Professor Ruth Ogden of Liverpool John Moores University, heightened emotion can cause the brain to activate and alter its ability to process time. This is because brain regions that regulate emotion are also linked to time processing.
A 2012 study conducted by scientists at the University of Turku in Finland also found that time slowing down can be understood using our internal clock. When the speed of this clock is increased, more ticks occur during the measured interval, causing the duration to be overestimated.
This phenomenon is believed to be a survival tactic deployed by the brain to increase our chance of survival. When faced with danger, our brains kick into gear and process more sensory information than on an average day. This gives us a better chance to react to the situation.
It's not just life-threatening situations that can cause time to slow down. Michael Flaherty, professor of Sociology at Eckerd College, found in 2017 that time can also slow down when someone embarks on a new journey. This could be due to the complexity of the situation being either much higher or much lower than normal.
So, next time you find yourself in a dangerous situation, don't be surprised if time appears to slow down. This could be your brain's way of helping you survive the traumatic event by collecting more information.
