Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
where their attention is focused or whether they can be trusted), or for
attractive options for creating offspring (neuropsychology confirms
some of Freud
s statements; on a nonconscious level, we are always pre-
occupied with sex). This first scanning is finished after 0.1 second. It
takes another 0.4 second to consciously notice these new stimuli and to
react on them. In the meantime, the basic brain can prepare a possible
action (raising the blood pressure, increasing the heart rate). This helps
us to be more prepared just in case something dangerous is happening.
We conduct this nonconscious scan
'
with a total throughput time for
conscious recognition of 0.5 second, which can be too slow in case of an
emergency
—
to help fully prepare the body to act once we consciously
notice a serious threat.
—
The basic brain works on a nonconscious level and regulates our basic
survival functions, hardly giving us any cues.
We can recognize this 0.4-second delay when we throw garbage in
the trash but then realize the trash has been emptied but a new liner
has not been placed in the can. When we open the trash can and auto-
matically start throwing in the garbage, we notice that the liner is not
there, but we cannot stop the movement of throwing in the trash,
because it takes another 0.4 second to stop the movement. Within this
time span, the garbage already lands in the can.
Our conscious system always lags a half second behind the actual facts.
As the basic brain acts on a nonconscious level, all we can sense from
these activities is a very basic and subtle feeling, positive or negative,
