Smaller animals tend to perceive time in slow-motion, according to a new study published in the UK journal Animal Behaviour. This means that they can observe movement on a finer timescale than bigger predators, allowing them to escape danger.
Insects and small birds, for example, can see more information in one second than a larger animal such as an elephant.
Insects and small birds, for example, can see more information in one second than a larger animal such as an elephant.
www.rentokil.com Graeme Ruxton, of the University of St Andrews, Scotland, a co-author, said: "Having eyes that send updates to the brain at much higher frequencies than our eyes do is of no value if the brain cannot process that information equally quickly. Hence, this work highlights the impressive capabilities of even the smallest animal brains.
Flies might not be deep thinkers but they can make good decisions very quickly."
Flies might not be deep thinkers but they can make good decisions very quickly."
www.telegraph.co.uk Animals with the fastest visual systems in the database included golden mantled ground squirrels, starlings and pigeons. Flying in flocks, they are able to perceive where their partner is. It's fascinating to wonder how insects and birds might perceive the world differently to us. Everything must come to them in slow motion, while they have the ability to react in normal time, like one of those tricks of the camera in a movie.
Apparently, some humans perceive movement faster than others. Athletes can often process visual information more quickly. An experienced goalkeeper would therefore be quicker than others in observing where a ball comes from. I can name other games where fast thinking would benefit a team: polo, basketball, short track races; you can probably suggest more.
According to the study, the speed at which humans absorb visual information is also age-related. Youngsters react fast right up to their prime, but the ability decreases with age.
The study used a technique called critical flicker fusion frequency, which measures the speed at which the eye can process light. Plotting results on a graph revealed a pattern that showed a strong relationship between body size and how quick the eye could respond to changing visual information such as a flashing light.
They warned that our perception of speed has reached the limit of what is humanly possible in driving Formula 1 speed cars or flying planes. To move any quicker would require either computer assistance, or enhancement of our visual system, either through drugs or implants.
Sounds like more science fiction becoming reality for the future.
Apparently, some humans perceive movement faster than others. Athletes can often process visual information more quickly. An experienced goalkeeper would therefore be quicker than others in observing where a ball comes from. I can name other games where fast thinking would benefit a team: polo, basketball, short track races; you can probably suggest more.
According to the study, the speed at which humans absorb visual information is also age-related. Youngsters react fast right up to their prime, but the ability decreases with age.
The study used a technique called critical flicker fusion frequency, which measures the speed at which the eye can process light. Plotting results on a graph revealed a pattern that showed a strong relationship between body size and how quick the eye could respond to changing visual information such as a flashing light.
They warned that our perception of speed has reached the limit of what is humanly possible in driving Formula 1 speed cars or flying planes. To move any quicker would require either computer assistance, or enhancement of our visual system, either through drugs or implants.
Sounds like more science fiction becoming reality for the future.
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