Our consciousness, our ability to perceive the world around us, and ultimately, our very sense of self, is shaped upon our perception of time in a loop: connecting memories of the past, present sensations, and expectations about the future. From philosophers to physicists, the fundamental nature of time and perception is still widely debated. What do neuroscientists have to say? The study of time perception, or chronoception, shows that our perception of time shifts depending on our internal mental states, external surroundings, and context.
We learned about different neural “clocks” and discovered practical and fun practices that will allowed us to “play” with time and deepen our experience of being in the moment. There was a live performance by renowned digital opera artist Amanda Gregory, who performed “Meta Music”, her collaboration with a team of scientists and technologists, drawing inspiration from research on cognitive psychology, neuroscience, psychophysics, and evolutionary biology.
Discussion Leads
David Eagleman, PhD & Jonathan Schooler, PhD
Dr. David Eagleman, best-selling author and Stanford neuroscientist known for his work on brain plasticity, time perception, synesthesia, and neurolaw, along with Dr. Jonathan Schooler, American psychologist, UC Santa Barbara distinguished professor of psychological and brain sciences, and world renowned scholar of the study of free will, meta-awareness, mindfulness, mind-wandering, memory, creativity, emotion, and the stream of consciousness, joined us in December for an enlightening conversation on consciousness and time perception.
Agenda
5:00 PM: Arrivals, refreshments
6:00 PM: Fireside discussion/Q&A with David Eagleman and Jonathan Schooler
7:00 PM: Time-bending activities
8:00 PM: Musical Performance by Amanda Gregory
10:00 PM: Soft close
12:00 AM: Home EEG lab opens
3:00 PM: Apotheosis