Early morning in Kyoto. The clear, green scent of wet willow leaves tickles my nose. Even if it's for work, visiting a place that's a step away from my everyday routine is a breath of fresh air to the soul. Scientifically, travel appears to be beneficial for the brain. People perceive the depth of time through "experience."
A neuroscience research team from the University of California has discovered neurons (time cells) in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex that encode the order of "time" and "experience," and has shed light on how these neurons are involved in human memory and time perception.
Neurons in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex act like "timestamps," storing experiences in chronological order. During sleep or rest, these neurons replay events, strengthening memories. This mechanism may be related to the subjective "length" and "depth" of time.
When we were young, a year seemed so long, probably because each day was filled with fresh surprises. Conversely, repeating the same thing over and over again tends to thin out our memories.
The lingering taste of instant noodles eaten on the way back from the pool. The smell of a summer festival, the mixture of gunpowder from fireworks and food from the food stalls. The sound of wind chimes ringing under the eaves of my grandparents' house. All of these are trivial memories now, but at the time, everything was a "first" for me, and I approached them with sparkling eyes and a sense of curiosity.
