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Timescapes of non-human experience
Ishan Singhal1, Jonathan Birch2, Anil K Seth3
1Sussex Centre for Consciousness Science, University of Sussex, BN1 9RH, Brighton, UK; School of Engineering and Informatics, University of Sussex, BN1 9RH, Brighton, UK.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Investigating non-human experiences scientifically is challenging. This review proposes studying the temporal structure, or
Area of Science:
- Comparative psychology
- Neuroscience
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Investigating non-human subjective experiences scientifically presents challenges due to sensory and consciousness differences.
- Understanding animal consciousness requires novel empirical approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a framework for scientifically investigating the temporal structure ('timescape') of non-human animal experiences.
- To lay the groundwork for a research program comparing animal temporal Umwelts.
Main Methods:
- Conceptualizing animal timescapes using five key, experimentally testable temporal windows.
- Analyzing existing evidence across species to identify variations in temporal experiences.
- Utilizing temporal illusions and experimental paradigms to probe perceptual timing.
Main Results:
- Perceptual content is governed by temporal principles: synchronization, revision, and persistence.
- These principles are influenced by attentional windows and content stability.
- Evidence suggests significant variation in timescapes across different animal species.
Conclusions:
- The proposed framework offers a testable approach to studying animal temporal experience.
- Comparing animal timescapes can advance our understanding of non-human consciousness.
- This research program opens new avenues for empirical investigation into animal minds.
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