SUMMATION TIME
Charles François (2004). SUMMATION TIME, International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(2): 3261.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3261 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
- “… a finite period of grace… such that two pulses arriving within such a time period still act as if they had been simultaneous” (J.von NEUMANN, 1958, p.55-56).
von NEUMANN defines summation time in relation to the transmission of simultaneous nervous impulses. A curious consequence is that perceived simultaneity is somehow slightly sequential. Summation time is thus necessary for any coherent global perception, even if supposedly simultaneous.
This is an interesting view, if connected with the concept of parallel processing: the interconnection of sequences processed in parallel is necessarily somewhat sequential!