Time Research
I arrived at the topic of time through the initial research on languages. From there, I decided to make a mind map to generate time-related research topics.
Interior Time
The concept of “interior time” mentioned by George Steiner in his book After Babel: aspects of language and translation was something that piqued my interest, so I decided to look into it further.
Circadian Rhythm
This brought me to the idea of the subjective feel of time and if it is the same for everyone. The term “circadian rhythm” appeared in my research.
What is a Circadian Rhythm?
It is a 24-hour cycle that helps govern essential bodily functions – especially the sleep-wake cycle – by syncing internal processes with the day-night cycle.
How do Circadian Rhythms Work?
Circadian rhythms are controlled by biological clocks located in organs and glands throughout the body, but all of these peripheral clocks are commanded by a “master clock” in a region of the brain called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN).
Source
Bryan, L. and Guo, L. (2024). What Is Circadian Rhythm? Sleep Foundation. Available at: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/circadian-rhythm.
Zeitgebers
From there, my research took me to the term of “zeitgebers”, which are environmental agents or events that provide cues for setting or resetting a biological clock.
They include, but aren’t limited to:
- Light
- Temperature
- Meal Times
- Exercise
- Social Interactions
- Sound
Source
www.sciencedirect.com. (n.d.). Zeitgeber – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. Available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/zeitgeber.
Michel Siffre’s Study
While researching the topic, I’ve also stumbled upon an experiment conducted by Michel Siffre.
Who was Michel Siffre?
He was a French researcher and speleologist (cave explorer) who conducted pioneering experiments on human biological rhythms by living for extended periods in complete isolation underground with no external time cues (zeitgebers) such as natural light or clocks.
The goal of Siffre’s research
His research aimed to check what happens to human circadian rhythms when all external time cues are removed, as well as finding out whether humans possess an internal biological clock that regulates sleep-wake patterns independently of the external environment.
Approach to the research
Siffre was the sole participant in his early experiments. He lived deep in a cave – without sunlight, clocks, or time information – for long durations (initially around 179 days in one study). He reported daily activities like sleeping and eating based on his own internal sense of time. His activities and physiological data were monitored via telephone contact and recording equipment.
The results of the study
- Internal clock remains without zeitgebers – with no external cues the man’s sleep-wake cycle extended to 25 hours (so an hour longer than the regular 24-hour day)
- Extended cycles occur with longer isolation – in later and longer experiments (for example lasting 6 months), Siffre and other participants showed very long rhythms, with cycles up to 48 hours
- Perception of time becomes distorted – Siffre significantly underestimated the passage of time – he believed a lot less time had elapsed than actually had.
Source
Online Learning College. (2022). Michel Siffre | What Did He Study?, Aims, Methods & Conclusions. Available at: https://online-learning-college.com/knowledge-hub/gcses/gcse-psychology-help/michel-siffre/?srsltid=AfmBOoqL5gP0EfLidPai3pS2j9T3W_a99fwz9T2PfQWk_RjidZm-e8cO
Link to the 4 Themes Research Presentation I gave in class: https://sites.wsagames.com/ms22g23/week-3-3/