Time Perception, Proprioception, and Electromagnetic Fields
When I want to talk about one thing, it suddenly morphs into 12 things. Enjoy!
I always seem to say, “Wow, it’s already *insert new month* ???” As if that’s not exactly how time works.
Well, Happy September! With the Fall Equinox coming up, I’m excited for all the comforting things that come with cooler weather and the holiday season.
With school back into full swing and summer almost over, maybe you’re able to get back on that routine. Or…maybe not?
The way we perceive time is a funny thing.
When we are kids, everything is fresh and new. By the time we’re in our 20s, 30s, etc., day to day becomes stagnant. Suddenly two years pass and we can’t even remember it.
Long term, time tends to feel slower when you experience novel things to break the routine. At the same time, time flies when you’re having fun right? BUT THEN, the longest minute of your life is holding a plank.
This is called Time Perception Theory. Emotions and routine (or lack thereof) can alter time perception.
So how can you make time feel slower?
Learn new things.
This keeps your brain healthy and active, like any other muscle in the body.
Create new experiences.
Novel experiences and breaking the routine can help the days not blend together as much. Try to do something different once a week.
Become more in tune with the here and now.
It’s easy to be on auto pilot for months and even years at a time. Meditation and awareness brings you back to the present to help our perception of time slow down - at least a little!
While routine can be great, neuroplasticity thrives on new experiences.
What can you do to change your routine? Small changes can make a big difference in time perception.
For my (original) topic of the month: Proprioception!
You may have heard this word before. Well, what is it, and why is it important?
Proprioception is your brain's sensory and movement “map” AKA your body’s awareness in time and space*
Close your eyes, put your arms in front of you, and wiggle your fingers.
Even when your eyes were closed, could you tell how far your fingers were from your face? Could you tell how close your hand was to the nearest solid object?
Try it again and this time, tap your pinky to your nose with your eyes closed. Try it with the other one. Could you feel the pressure on your nose? Maybe one side was quicker and more accurate than the other. That’s proprioception.
Now, imagine this: You’re in a new city and need a map to figure out where to go. (That was me last month when I was in NYC. It had been 11 years since I was there last). When part of the map is blurry or missing, it’s hard to navigate around. This applies to your own brain’s “3D Map”*
There are times when our proprioceptive map can be blurry or missing; like when you lose your balance, can’t find proper alignment in an exercise, or underestimate how much force you need to lift an object. This can cause different outputs like dizziness, nausea, pain, and more.
Different parts of your body have a higher or lower awareness “map”
For example, many people have low back pain because humans have lower proprioception in areas like the spine and hips; therefore, the “map” isn’t as precise as the awareness we have in other body parts like our fingers and face.
Why?
Certain body parts require more attention, simply because they are needed/used more.
There are many types of nerves in our body that help us adapt to the world around us.
Here are scientific terms that you probably won’t remember (and don’t need to).
Nerve endings that contribute to proprioception:
Mechanoreceptors (movement)
Thermoreceptors (temperature)
Chemoreceptors (chemical composition of the blood)
Baroreceptors (pressure)
Electromagnetic Receptors (more on this below)
Nociceptors (threat) - *spoiler alert: this gets a whole monthly topic; stay tuned next month*
Our brains are hardwired to predict. The better prediction we have, the safer we feel.
Our brain is also energy efficient. It pretty much says to itself; “How can I use the least amount of energy for what I need to do?” Energy conservation at its finest.
Having better body awareness can improve your balance, coordination, reaction time, and improve performance using less energy. It can also lower your risk of injury and stress.
Good news! You don’t need to learn a magical exercise to improve proprioception. You are using it all the time!
But, here are some ways to improve proprioception during your every day activities and workouts:
Do exercises that challenge your balance (This will help your vestibular system)
Do exercises that are not predictable (This will teach your body to readjust quicker)
Don’t forget about your eyes (Gaze matters. Try the same exercises and spot somewhere different or close your eyes)
This is a very simple but effective way to test and improve proprioception. If this is too easy, try to count how many seconds you can hold the single leg stand. Then try it with your eyes closed.
Speaking of electromagnetic receptors…
Fun Fact: Our organs produce an electromagnetic field of our own.
The heart produces the largest electromagnetic field in the body that can reach up to to 3-5 feet away.
Whether or not it’s strong enough for other humans to feel is still debated. With the current scientific understanding, our electromagnetic fields aren’t consciously noticeable by others because it’s too low to detect.
But I believe we can feel other people's electric magnetic fields at an unconscious level. What do you think?
Last but not least:
If you find this all interesting, I highly recommend signing up for a FREE 30-Day immersive program from Z-Health that touches base on some of these topics. Be sure to put my name in the referral box!
Until Next Time -L
