The Self-Simulational Theory of temporal extension

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience of Consciousness
• Cognitive Science
• Philosophy of Mind

Background:

• Subjective experience is inherently temporal, unfolding moment by moment.
• William James's 'specious present' highlights the extension of experience beyond the immediate instant.
• The relationship between self-representation and the phenomenology of time remains underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and formalize the Self-Simulational Theory of temporal extension.
• To explain the emergence of subjective temporal extension from self-representation.
• To examine empirical evidence supporting the theory across various states of consciousness and mental health.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of self-representation and temporal experience.
• Formalization using information theory for a neuronally realistic description.
• Review of empirical evidence from temporal cognition, altered states, and psychopathology.

Main Results:

• Subjective temporal extension emerges from the difference between actual and counterfactual self-representations.
• The Self-Simulational Theory provides a unified framework for understanding temporal experience.
• The theory accounts for variations in the perceived 'Now' in diverse psychological conditions.

Conclusions:

• The Self-Simulational Theory offers a novel explanation for the subjective experience of time.
• This framework has significant implications for the neuroscience of consciousness.
• The theory aids in understanding variations in temporal experience associated with mental illness.