From self-organizing systems to subjective temporal extension
Jan Erik Bellingrath · 2026
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Description
Jan Erik Bellingrath develops in 2026 a formal theory for why the felt present moment stretches and shrinks. His self-simulational theory ties the width of subjective time to how the brain models itself. The work rebuilds that theory from the free energy principle, a broad account of how living systems stay organized.
A computer model of layered time inference then reproduced two classic quirks without extra assumptions. Voluntary actions and their effects feel closer together in time than they are, a pull called intentional binding. Deep meditation states, where time sense nearly vanishes, also fell out of the same machinery. Mood, boredom, flow, and near-death states are folded into the same frame, which could be rebuilt inside artificial agents.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Jan Erik Bellingrath |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 70 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |