Beyond Human Perception
I have long been fascinated by what is beyond human perception – the fact that humans only see a tiny fraction of the electromagnetic spectrum.
I have also been fascinated by the fact that dogs can hear things we can’t, and other such interesting details.
So, I decided to ask ChatGPT some questions to get an idea of just how much is beyond normal human perception.
Here is what ChatGPT came up with.
First, let’s explore sight.
What percentage of the entire spectrum of light can humans see?
Humans can see only a small fraction of the entire spectrum of light, specifically the visible light spectrum. The visible light spectrum ranges from approximately 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). In contrast, the entire electromagnetic spectrum, which includes other forms of light such as radio waves, microwaves, infrared, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays, spans from less than one picometer to over 100 kilometers in wavelength. Considering the vast range of the electromagnetic spectrum, the percentage of light that humans can see (visible light) is minuscule, much less than 1%.
Answer: less than 1%
What percentage of the total information that we see do we actually process with the conscious part of our brain?
The human brain is constantly bombarded with a vast amount of sensory information, of which only a fraction is processed consciously. While the exact percentage can vary based on the study and methodology, it’s often said that we consciously process only a tiny fraction of the information we receive from our senses. Some estimates suggest that the conscious mind processes about 40 bits of information per second, while the unconscious mind processes around 11 million bits per second. This means that, in terms of visual information, we are consciously aware of only a minuscule portion, possibly less than 0.0004% of the total information our eyes and brain receive. The vast majority of information is processed by our subconscious, allowing our conscious mind to focus on what is most relevant or important.
Answer: less than 0.0004%
So, what percentage of the total spectrum of light do humans consciously process?
Answer: less than 1% x less than 0.0004% (I’ll let you do the math)
Next, let’s consider sound…
What percentage of the entire spectrum of sound can humans hear?
Humans can hear sound frequencies within a specific range, commonly referred to as the audible range. The human audible range is typically between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz (20 kHz). However, the entire spectrum of sound frequencies extends beyond this, from infrasound (below 20 Hz) to ultrasound (above 20 kHz). Given that sound frequencies can range from a fraction of a hertz to many gigahertz in the ultrasound spectrum, the percentage of sound frequencies humans can hear when compared to the entire spectrum is very small, much less than 1%. It’s worth noting that this percentage can vary depending on individual hearing capabilities and age, as older individuals often cannot hear higher frequencies as effectively as younger individuals.
Answer: less than 1%
What percentage of the total information that we hear do we actually process with the conscious part of our brain?
The exact percentage of auditory information that we consciously process compared to what we hear is not straightforward and can vary among individuals and situations. However, based on general knowledge and understanding of the human brain’s processing capabilities, we consciously process only a small fraction of the sounds we hear, possibly around 1% to 10%. The remaining 90% to 99% is either filtered out or processed subconsciously. It’s essential to note that this is a broad estimate, and the actual percentage can vary depending on various factors like attention, the importance of the sound, and individual differences.
So, what percentage of the total spectrum of sound do humans consciously process?
Answer: less than 1% x less than 10% (again, I’ll let you do the math)
Beyond Human Perception: The Vast Spectrum We’re Missing Out On
Think about how engrossed we are in what we see and hear – and how it feels to us as though that is all there is re sight and sound.
Now consider what we have discussed above.
What are we missing out on? What is beyond our human perception?
…that’s for another article…
~ Bella