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The Brain: What Is the Speed of Thought?

Faster than a bird and slower than sound. but that may be besides the point: efficiency and timing seem to be more important anyway..

When Samuel Morse established the first commercial telegraph, in 1844, he dramatically changed our expectations about the pace of life. One of the first telegraph messages came from that year’s Democratic National Convention in Baltimore, where the delegates had picked Senator Silas Wright as their vice presidential nominee. The president of the convention telegraphed Wright in Washington, D.C., to see if he would accept. Wright immediately wired back: No. Incredulous that a message could fly almost instantly down a wire, the delegates adjourned and sent a flesh-and-blood committee by train to confirm Wright’s response—which was, of course, the same. From such beginnings came today’s high-speed, networked society.

Less famously but no less significantly, the telegraph also transformed the way we think about the pace of our inner life. Morse’s invention debuted just as researchers were starting to make sense of the nervous system, and telegraph wires were an inspiring model of how nerves might work . After all, nerves and telegraph wires were both long strands, and they both used electricity to transmit signals. Scientists knew that telegraph signals did not travel instantaneously; in one experiment, it took a set of dots and dashes a quarter of a second to travel 900 miles down a telegraph wire. Perhaps, the early brain investigators considered, it took time for nerves to send signals too. And perhaps we could even quantify that time.

The notion that the speed of thought could be measured, just like the density of a rock, was shocking. Yet that is exactly what scientists did. In 1850 German physiologist Hermann von Helmholtz attached wires to a frog’s leg muscle so that when the muscle contracted it broke a circuit. He found that it took a tenth of a second for a signal to travel down the nerve to the muscle. In another experiment he applied a mild shock to people’s skin and had them gesture as soon as they felt it. It took time for signals to travel down human nerves, too. In fact, Helmholtz discovered it took longer for people to respond to a shock in the toe than to one at the base of the spine because the path to the brain was longer.

Helmholtz’s results clashed with people’s gut instinct that they experienced the world as it happened, with no lag between sensation and awareness. “This is altogether a delusion,” German physiologist Emil Du Bois-Reymond declared in 1868. “It appears that ‘quick as thought’ is, after all, not so very quick.”

With their simple tools, Helmholtz and others could manage only crude measures of the speed of thought. Some of them came up with rates that were twice as fast as others. Researchers have been trying to get more precise results ever since. Today it is clear why they have had such a hard time. Our nerves operate at many different speeds, reflecting the biological challenges of wiring all the parts of the body together. In some ways evolution has fine-tuned our brains to run like a digital superhighway, but in other ways it has left us with a Pony Express.

Thought may not be instantaneous, but it is rapid enough to seem like it is most of the time. The need for speed in the nervous system is not hard to understand. Many animals depend on their nerves to sense danger and to escape from predators; the predators, in turn, depend on their nerves to mount a fast attack. But speed also influences us in surprising ways.

In one common experiment for studying the speed of thought, researchers briefly show test subjects a lopsided, upside-down U and then ask them which leg of the figure is longer. It turns out that the subjects’ reaction times say a lot about their lives in general. People with faster responses tend to score higher on intelligence tests. Some psychologists have argued that a high processing speed in the brain is a vital ingredient for intelligence . Responses slow down when people suffer certain psychological disorders like depression . More puzzling, people with sluggish reaction times are more likely to die of incidents like strokes or heart attacks .

High speed is also crucial to the way we perceive the world . Three or four times a second, our eyes dart in a new direction, allowing us only about a tenth of a second to make sense of what we see in each spot. And we make remarkably good use of that time. Recently, neuroscientists Michelle Greene and Aude Oliva of MIT ran an experiment in which they briefly showed people a series of landscapes and then asked questions about the scenes. For example, was there a forest in the picture? Did it look like a hot place? People did well on these tests even when they glimpsed each of the pictures for less than one tenth of a second .

We are able to understand the world so quickly because of some clever speed boosters built into our eyes. Tim Gollisch of the Max Planck Institute of Neurobiology in Germany recently discovered evidence of one of these. He extracted retinal tissue from amphibians and exposed the living tissue to a series of simple geometric patterns. Then he recorded how the nerve cells fired in response. He noticed that each neuron started firing a little earlier or a little later, depending on which picture he showed. The shifts were distinctive enough that he could predict a shape just by looking at the timing of the neural reaction. Although this test involved amphibians, Gollisch proposes that the results would hold true for human brains as well. They might not wait for all the signals from the retina to arrive before they begin building a representation of the world. They might get a head start with the very first bits of information.

Using a fast code helps speed up thought, but to a large extent the brain—like a telegraph network—really depends on efficient pathways. Impulses from the retinas, for instance, have to travel up the optic nerve to the thalamus, which relays the signals to the visual cortex in the back of the brain. Then they ripple forward to other brain centers, where we use the visual information to make decisions and take actions. One way to hasten that journey is to use fast wiring. In 1854 physicist William Thomson showed that the wider a telegraph wire, the faster its signal and the farther the signal could travel. That same principle applies to nerves. The fattest axons, such as Betz cells in the brain, are 200 times thicker than the thinnest ones.

In principle, our thoughts could race far more efficiently if all the axons in our brains were thick. But the human brain has at least a quarter of a million miles of wiring—more than enough to reach from Earth to the moon—and is already packed tight. Sam Wang , a Princeton University neuroscientist, calculated how big our brain would be if it were built with thick axons. “Making an entire brain out of them would create heads so large that we couldn’t fit through doorways,” he concluded. Such a brain would also consume a tremendous amount of energy.

Given the constraints of biology and physics, our brains appear to have evolved to run very efficiently. For instance, neurons in the brain tend to be joined together into small networks, which are then linked to one another by relatively few long-range connections . This kind of network needs less wiring than other arrangements, and therefore shortens the distance signals need to travel.

Our brains also speed up through practice. Rene Marois , a neuro­scientist at Vanderbilt University, measured this effect by having people perform a basic multitasking test : They had to identify which of two possible faces appeared on a computer screen while responding to one of two possible sounds. In just two weeks of training (encompassing eight to twelve practice sessions), the test-takers were able to do both tasks in rapid succession almost as quickly as doing either one on its own. With practice, Marois speculates, the neurons in the brain’s bottleneck regions , primarily in the prefrontal cortex, require fewer signals and less time to produce the right response.

Sometimes our brains actually need to slow down, however. In the retina, the neurons near the center are much shorter than the ones at the edges, and yet somehow all of the signals manage to reach the next layer of neurons in the retina at the same time . One way the body may do this is by holding back certain nerve signals—for instance, by putting less myelin on the relevant axons. Another possible way to make nerve impulses travel more slowly involves growing longer axons, so that signals have a greater distance to travel.

In fact, reducing the speed of thought in just the right places is crucial to the fundamentals of consciousness. Our moment-to-moment awareness of our inner selves and the outer world depends on the thalamus, a region near the core of the brain, which sends out pacemaker-like signals to the brain’s outer layers. Even though some of the axons reaching out from the thalamus are short and some are long, their signals arrive throughout all parts of the brain at the same time —a good thing, since otherwise we would not be able to think straight.

So when Helmholtz recognized that thought moves at a finite rate, faster than a bird but slower than sound, he missed a fundamental difference between the brain and a telegraph. In our heads, speed is not always the most important thing. Sometimes what really matters is timing.

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What is the speed of thought?

It may feel like thinking happens instantaneously (for some of us), but there's actually some lag time.

Christian Jarrett

Asked by: Geethu Thomas, Surrey

Scientists have approached this difficult question by timing how long it takes us to become consciously aware of sensory information. By some estimates, we can experience sensory stimuli that’s presented for as little as 50 milliseconds (about one-twentieth of a second). It is thought that our brains can, in fact, respond to information that’s much briefer than this, lasting less than a quarter of a millisecond.

In terms of sensing and then responding, a good measure is the sprinter reacting to the starting gun, which can be done in about 150 milliseconds. One limiting factor is how long it takes information to travel down our nerve pathways. In the 19th Century, Hermann von Helmholtz estimated this to be 35 metres per second, but we now know that some well-insulated nerves are faster, at up 120 metres per second.

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.

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What Happens to Your Body When Your Brain Is Thinking?

Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology.

do thoughts travel

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

do thoughts travel

 Alison Czinkota / Verywell

What Is a Thought?

Anatomy of a thought, thoughts and emotions, regulating your thoughts.

  • Changing Your Thoughts

Impact of Brain Damage and Disease

What happens to your body when you're thinking? You might think that is a simple question to answer: a thought is just words in your brain that cause you to do something, right? In reality, this question has plagued scientists for decades and the precise answer is still something that is the subject of research.

For this reason, it's not something that can be clearly described in a flowchart format. However, what we can do is break down what we do know about our thoughts and then try to put the pieces of the puzzle together to create a picture of what is happening.

The first problem with describing what happens in your body when you are thinking is that not everyone agrees on what constitutes a thought. At first glance, you probably think of a thought as something that you tell yourself.

For example, this morning while lying in bed you might have had the thought, "I don't want to get up."

Let's take a moment and deconstruct that thought to try and figure out exactly what it is.

Is the thought "I don't want to get out of bed" something that spontaneously appeared in your mind? Or was it triggered by something? Is it just a physical process of your brain or the manifestation of something deeper like a soul, spirit, or other entity?

Phew, that's a lot to think about. And, depending on who you ask, you will get different answers.

Reductionism vs. Dualism

While scientists might apply reductionist theory and predict that thoughts are simply physical entities that can be explained by chemical changes in the brain, philosophers or other theorists might argue a more dualistic theory that your mind is separate from your body and your thoughts are not physical parts of your brain.

All that aside, if we want to consider what happens in our bodies (or specifically our brains) when we are thinking, then we need to at least acknowledge that our thoughts can influence our bodies.

We know this to be true for a number of reasons. For example:

  • Stress (or negative thoughts) can worsen physical illness
  • Fear can lead to increases in certain chemicals that prepare us through the " fight or flight " response
  • Thoughts start chain reactions that allow us to contract our muscles

Since we know that thoughts can influence our brains and our bodies, let's take a look at exactly how they do that and what is happening under the hood (in your head).

Let's jump back to that morning thought: "I don't want to get out of bed."

Scientists would argue first that the thought you had was not spontaneous and random. Instead, your thought was likely a reaction to something around you.

In this case, it might have been an alarm clock, checking your phone to see what time it is, or hearing something like the garbage truck go by that reminds you of time passing. In other cases, thoughts might be triggered by memories .

Now, once you have that thought, what happens?

Some Neuroscience Terms Defined

In order to understand how thinking happens in the brain, there are some key terms you know more about:

  • Action potential : Sudden burst of voltage caused by chemical changes (how neurons signal one another)
  • Neuron : A nerve cell through which signals are sent
  • Neurotransmitter : Chemical messengers released by neurons that help them communicate with other cells (e.g., dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine)
  • Prefrontal cortex : Part of the brain involved in planning, personality, decision making, and social behavior.
  • Hippocampus : Part of the brain crucial in a variety of memory functions.
  • Synapse: A structure that allows a neuron (nerve cell) to pass a chemical or electrical signal to a target cell.

How the Brain Thinks

The brain operates in a complex way with many parts intersecting and interacting with each other simultaneously. So, when you have that thought in the morning, it's likely that all these different components of your brain (prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, neurons, neurotransmitters, etc.) are all involved at the same time.

If the result of your thought that you don't want to get out of bed is that you throw the covers back over your head, what happened to allow that action? Or, if instead you decided that you needed to get up and got out of bed, what happened differently?

We know that when the brain is making a decision, different neural networks compete with each other. Eventually, one of the networks becomes activated and produces the desired behavior.

This happens through nerve cells in the spinal cord called motor neurons that fire and sends an impulse down their axon , which travels to the muscle and causes the action: in this case you throwing the covers over your head or actually getting out of bed.

What about the emotional effects of your thought?

We know that your thoughts can influence the neurotransmitters in your brain. Optimism is linked to better immunity to illness while depressive thinking may be linked to reduced immunity.

So, if you throw the covers over your head, and that triggers other thoughts such as "I'm tired," "I can't get up," or "Life is hard," complex interactions in your brain may send signals to other parts of your body.

On the other hand, if you get out of bed and think, "This isn't so bad," "I'm getting going now," or "Today is going to be a great day," the pathways and signals that your neurons send will obviously be different.

We don't yet know all the intricacies of these processes; however, suffice it to say that your thoughts matter.

Your brain is constantly receiving signals, whether from the outside environment in terms of perceptions or memories from your past. It then activates different patterns through waves in the brain through billions of synapses.

In this way, your thoughts grow more complex as they interact with other content produced by your brain functions.

It goes without saying that your thoughts are linked to your emotions in a bidirectional way. How many times have you experienced a shot of adrenaline after having a fearful thought? Have you ever gone to a job interview or on a first date and felt the same?

Whenever you have a thought, there is a corresponding chemical reaction in your mind and body as a result.

Changing Your Thoughts Changes How You Feel

This is important to realize because it means that what you think can affect how you feel. And by the same token, if you are feeling poorly, you can change that by changing how you think.

If that sounds a little unusual, go back to the premise that thoughts are physical entities in your brain (and not spontaneous outside forces that don't connect with your body).

If you accept the scientific view that your thoughts are physical parts of your brain and that changing your thoughts can have an effect on your body, then you've just developed a powerful weapon.

Changing Thoughts Starts With Identifying Triggers

But wait a minute: if our thoughts are always just reactions to something, how can we take control and change them?

Of course, your thoughts don't arise out of a vacuum. For example, you are reading this article and gaining new ideas from it that you can potentially put to use in changing your thoughts.

  • You're starting to think a different way.
  • You've started to feed your brain different information.
  • You've surrounded yourself with information that programs your brain to start thinking the way that you want it to.

What this means is that if you want to start changing your thoughts, you need to be aware of the triggers of your thoughts and also the patterns of thoughts that you have in response to those triggers.

The next time you are lying in bed thinking, "I don't want to get up," ask yourself what triggered that thought.

How to Change Your Thoughts and Change Your Body

Get very clear about the triggers of your thoughts and you will have the power to change your emotions and your health. In the case of the person not wanting to get out of bed, it could be that the alarm clock triggered the thought.

You've got a mental association between the alarm clock and the thought "I don't want to get out of bed."

You've worn a mental groove in your brain, so to speak, that instantly connects that trigger with that thought. So if you want to change that reaction, you either need to change the trigger or break the association with that thought.

Challenge Yourself to Think Differently

One way to do this would be to force yourself to think a different thought each morning for 30 days until that becomes the new reaction to the trigger. For example, you could force yourself to think, "I love getting up" every day for 30 days.

If that thought is just a little too unrealistic, maybe try something like, "It's not so bad getting up. Once I get going I'm glad I got up early."

Changing environmental triggers can also be helpful. For example, you could also change the sound of your alarm so that you're less likely to have that old reaction (the old thought) to the old alarm.

Once you get the hang of this, you can apply it in all areas of your life! For example:

  • Stuck in a traffic jam and feeling irritated and frustrated? The thought, "I can't stand traffic" will send signals from your brain to your body to speed up your breathing and tense your muscles. Whereas the thought, "I can't control this, might as well relax," will send the signal to your body to calm down.
  • Worried about an upcoming presentation? The worried thought, "This will be awful, I am so anxious" will leave you feeling panicked and on edge, whereas the thought, "I'm doing my best, that's all I can do" will help to send signals to your body that it's okay to be calm and relaxed .

We know that lesions to specific parts of the brain damage specific cognitive abilities. This is interesting because it highlights the point that thoughts really are physical entities that both influence and are influenced by the body.

Cognitive functions depend on all parts of the brain working properly; when these systems become disrupted, thinking can be affected.

In addition to traumatic brain injuries, diseases can also have an effect on thinking. Examples include Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, ALS, and stroke. Brain damage caused by these conditions can affect:

  • Self-awareness
  • Impulse control
  • Concentration
  • Decision-making
  • Problem-solving

In addition to affecting aspects of thinking and behavior, brain injuries can also have lasting physical effects including headaches, dizziness, hearing loss, vision loss, sleep problems, and fatigue. All of these issues can then affect how a person thinks.

A Word From Verywell

While it's true that there is a lot we still don't understand about the mind, body, universe, etc., it's fairly obvious that at the very least, thoughts can have a direct influence on reactions in the brain and body.

This is the basis of many forms of talk therapy , such as cognitive-behavioral therapy . This can allow you to change your thinking, you are also doing something that can have a positive impact on your brain and your body. As you build new neural pathways and develop healthier thinking habits, these changes can be long-lasting.

Breazeale R. Thoughts, Neurotransmitters, Body-Mind Connectio n.

Cornell Center for Materials Research. How does your body move? Does the brain send it messages?

Dougherty E. What Are Thoughts Made Of ?

Shapiro E, Shapiro D. How Your Mind Affects Your Body .

Worrall S. Why the Brain-Body Connection Is More Important Than We Think .

By Arlin Cuncic, MA Arlin Cuncic, MA, is the author of "Therapy in Focus: What to Expect from CBT for Social Anxiety Disorder" and "7 Weeks to Reduce Anxiety." She has a Master's degree in psychology.

What Is the Speed of Thought?

do thoughts travel

The planet’s 7.5 billion people are different in so many ways, but there’s one thing they share: the sense of being alive, right now, in this particular moment.

Or rather, that’s what it feels like. But while “right now” seems like the most obvious and intuitive feeling in the real world, it turns out to be considerably stranger once you peek under the hood. Human thought takes time to form, and so the “right now” that we’re experiencing inside our skulls is always a little later than what’s going on in the outside world. It takes 500 milliseconds, or half a second, for sensory information from the outside world to be incorporated into conscious experience. So, in a sense, the future has already happened — we’re just not aware of it yet.

To make things even more complicated, the different senses operate at different speeds, so to create a unified sense of “right now,” the brain has to delay some of them in order to stitch them seamlessly into consciousness.

A weird side effect of this is that you can experimentally tweak a person’s perception so that it seems like cause and effect are reversed. Psychologists have long known that if a voluntary action (like pressing a button) is followed by a delayed effect (such as a flash) the brain will create the sensation that the two are closer together in time than they really are. Experimenters led by Chess Stetson at the University of Texas set up a device that would set off a flash of light after a preset delay of a small fraction of a second. They then asked test subjects to press the button repeatedly. After a while the researchers removed the delay so that the flash occurred instantaneously. When they next pushed the button, the subjects had the weird experience that the flash was happening before the action that triggered it.

The conscious mind is prone to this kind of manipulation because it has a complex computational mission. It must interpret the world, make predictions about the future, and figure out a course of action. All of this is difficult and slow. And while conscious thought is invaluable for forming long-term strategy, it’s absolutely useless in the face of fast-moving danger. Imagine that a tiger leaps out of the bushes at you: If you have to perceive the situation consciously and reason through a response, you’ll be dead.

do thoughts travel

Fortunately, the brain has several layers of emergency-response circuitry, each faster and more simplistic than the last.

The fastest is the startle reflex. If you’re walking along and you suddenly hear a loud noise, your ear will trigger an extremely simple chain of just three neurons that connect to the spinal cord and brain stem. Within five milliseconds, hundreds of muscles are recruited into a self-defense reaction: eyelids shut, shoulders and chest tighten up, hands clench. There’s absolutely nothing you can do about it — by the time you’re consciously aware that you’ve been startled, you’re already two feet in the air.

Given a few more milliseconds, the body is able to respond in a more nuanced way. When something threatening occurs, it takes about 12 milliseconds for the information to reach the amygdala, the almond-shaped neural hub that’s one of the most important centers for emotional processing. The amygdala isn’t super-sophisticated, but it knows what danger looks like. Imagine that you’re about to get into bed, and you pull back the sheets — and there, right in front of your face, is a three-foot-long snake. The amygdala triggers an immediate fight-or-flight response: your heart rate goes through the roof, your pupils dilate, and you hear yourself scream. A half-second later, your consciousness kicks in and you realize it’s a rubber snake, and you go to throttle your 10-year-old.

We tend to think of startle and panic as bad things, because more often than not, they turn out to be overreactions. But once in a while, they can save your bacon. I’ll never forget the time I put my infant son in his bouncy chair on the kitchen table and turned around to the kitchen counter to make pancakes. I was holding a measuring cup full of flour when I suddenly found myself spinning around, flour flying everywhere, and grabbing my son, who had bounced too far forward and was at that moment falling head first toward the floor. For an instant I crouched there, my son’s head suspended a foot above the floor, wondering what the hell had just happened. (I later learned that there is an entire YouTube genre of “dad save” videos documenting just such behavior.)

This is a dramatic example, but the principle applies to all sorts of daily activity: anything that we do in the span of less than half a second — hitting a fastball, improvising a lyric, catching a stranger’s glance — we do entirely through automatic circuitry rather than conscious decision. The upshot is either depressing or inspiring, depending on how you look at it: For all the wonders that human consciousness has brought into the world, some of the best things we do we accomplish without it.

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June 28, 2018

“Traveling” Brain Waves May Be Critical for Cognition

Physical motion of neural signals may play a more important role in brain function than previously thought

By Simon Makin

do thoughts travel

Getty Images

The electrical oscillations we call brain waves have intrigued scientists and the public for more than a century. But their function—and even whether they have one, rather than just reflecting brain activity like an engine’s hum—is still debated. Many neuroscientists have assumed that if brain waves do anything, it is by oscillating in synchrony in different locations. Yet a growing body of research suggests many brain waves are actually “traveling waves” that physically move through the brain like waves on the sea.

Now a new study from a team at Columbia University led by neuroscientist Joshua Jacobs suggests traveling waves are widespread in the human cortex—the seat of higher cognitive functions—and that they become more organized depending on how well the brain is performing a task. This shows the waves are relevant to behavior, bolstering previous research suggesting they are an important but overlooked brain mechanism that contributes to memory, perception, attention and even consciousness.

Brain waves were first discovered using electroencephalogram (EEG) techniques, which involve placing electrodes on the scalp. Researchers have noted activity over a range of different frequencies, from delta (0.5 to 4 hertz) through to gamma (25 to 140 Hz) waves. The slowest occur during deep sleep, with increasing frequency associated with increasing levels of consciousness and concentration. Interpreting EEG data is difficult due to their poor ability to pinpoint the location of activity, and the fact that passage through the head blurs the signals. The new study, published in June in Neuron , used a more recent technique called electrocorticography (ECoG). This involves placing electrode arrays directly on the brain’s surface, minimizing distortions and vastly improving spatial resolution.

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Scientists have proposed numerous possible roles for brain waves. A leading hypothesis holds that synchronous oscillations serve to “bind” information in different locations together as pertaining to the same “thing,” such as different features of a visual object (shape, color, movement, etcetera). A related idea is they facilitate the transfer of information among regions. But such hypotheses require brain waves to be synchronous, producing “standing” waves (analogous to two people swinging a jump rope up and down) rather than traveling waves (as in a crowd doing “the wave” at a sports event). This is important because traveling waves have different properties that could, for example, represent information about the past states of other brain locations. The fact they physically propagate through the brain like sound through air makes them a potential mechanism for moving information from one place to another.

These ideas have been around for decades , but the majority of neuroscientists have paid little attention. One likely reason is that until recently most previous reports of traveling waves—although there are exceptions—have merely described the waves without establishing their significance. “If you ask the average systems neuroscientist, they’ll say it’s an epiphenomenon [like an engine’s hum],” says computational neuroscientist Terry Sejnowski of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies who was not involved in the new study. “And since it has never been directly connected to any behavior or function, it’s not something that’s important.”

The tools researchers use may also have played a part. Today’s mainstream neuroscience has its roots in studying the behavior of neurons one at a time using needlelike microelectrodes. Pioneering researchers in this area noticed the timing of when a neuron fired varied from one trial of an experiment to another. They concluded this timing must not be important and began combining responses from multiple trials to produce an average “firing rate.” This became the standard way to quantify neural activity, but the variability may result from where neurons are in oscillation cycles, so the practice ignores the timing information needed to reveal traveling waves. “The conceptual framework grew out of what a single neuron is doing by itself,” Sejnowski says, but “the brain works through populations of neurons interacting with each other.” Because traveling waves comprise the activity of many neurons spread across the brain, they are invisible to single-neuron techniques. But over the last decade new technologies have appeared that allow many neurons to be monitored simultaneously. “This has given us a very different picture,” Sejnowski says. “For the first time we have the tools and techniques to see what’s really going on—but it’s going to take a generation before it’s accepted by the established neuroscience community.”

Optical methods, like voltage-sensitive dyes, allow researchers to visualize electrical changes in thousands of neurons simultaneously but cannot be used in humans because of the risks they pose. ECoG, however, is commonly used in epilepsy patients to investigate seizures. So the researchers behind the new study recruited 77 epilepsy patients with implanted ECoG arrays and went looking for traveling waves. They first looked for clusters of electrodes displaying oscillations at the same frequency. Nearly two thirds of all electrodes were part of such clusters, which were present in 96 percent of patients (at frequencies from 2-15 Hz, spanning the theta band at 4-8 Hz and alpha band at 8-12 Hz). The researchers next assessed which clusters represented bona fide traveling waves by analyzing the timing of the oscillations. If consecutive oscillations are part of a traveling wave, each will be slightly delayed or advanced, depending on direction of travel. (Think of how people in a crowd wave follow one another with a slight delay.) Two thirds of the clusters detected were traveling waves moving from the rear to the front of the cortex. These involved nearly half of all electrodes and occurred in all lobes and both hemispheres of patients’ brains.

The team next gave participants a working-memory task and found traveling waves in their frontal and temporal lobes became more organized half a second after people were prompted to recall information. The waves changed from moving in various directions to mostly moving in concert. Importantly, the extent to which they did this varied with how quickly participants responded. “More consistent waves correspond to better task performance,” Jacobs says. “This suggests a new way to measure brain activity to understand cognition, which can perhaps give rise to new, improved brain–computer interfaces.” (BCIs are devices that connect a human brain to a machine that performs some task, like moving a prosthetic limb.)

These findings should help dispel some researchers’ lingering doubts about the importance of such waves. “The article is a strong contribution to the study of cortical traveling waves, adding to previous work on their role in human cognition,” says psychologist David Alexander of the University of Leuven in Belgium who did not take part in the work. “This really will put to rest any worries that the waves are an artifact of blurring of signal passing through the skull.” He also says the authors make unjustified claims about the novelty of the findings and fail to acknowledge some previous research, however. “Previous work on traveling waves has shown they are evoked during working memory tasks,” he says, pointing to a 2002 EEG study that found the timing of a reversal in direction of theta waves correlated with memory performance. Interestingly, an EEG study Alexander himself published in 2009 found fewer waves moving from the front to the back of the head during a working-memory task in people who had experienced their first episode of schizophrenia, compared with healthy individuals, suggesting differences in traveling wave behavior can be related to psychiatric symptoms. He also claims the methods the team used to assess traveling waves are similar to those he used in a 2016 study . “Alexander’s work is really interesting, but it’s not clear his findings involve the same signals as our paper,” Jacobs notes. “He reported patterns that literally involve the entire brain whereas our findings were limited to particular regions.” Jacobs also points to differences in recording techniques and the nature of recorded signals.

Confirming the importance of traveling waves creates new horizons in neuroscience. “Finding that such a wide range of oscillations are traveling waves shows that they involve coordinating activity across different brain regions,” Jacobs says. “This opens key new areas of research, such as understanding what exactly this coordination consists of.” He thinks the waves propagate information, at least in the context of the current study.

Another idea holds that waves, by repeatedly moving across patches of cortex, modulate the sensitivity of neurons so as to sweep a “searchlight” of attention across, say, the brain’s visual processing area. “The concept of a traveling wave is closely tied up with the issue of how you maintain the cortex in the sweet spot where it’s maximally sensitive to other inputs and able to function optimally,” Sejnowski says. Interest in traveling waves will undoubtedly continue to increase. “What you’re seeing right now is a transformation from one conceptual framework to a completely new framework,” he adds. “It’s a paradigm shift.”

Speed of Thought-to-Speech Traced in Brain

do thoughts travel

In just 600 milliseconds, the human brain can think of a word, apply the rules of grammar to it and send it to the mouth to be spoken. For the first time, researchers have traced this lightning-fast sequence and broken it down into distinct steps.

Researchers got this rare glimpse into the fine-tuned workings of the brain from the signals sent by electrodes implanted in the brains of epileptics. The electrodes help surgeons locate the parts of the brain that cause epileptic seizures so they can be removed, and also help keep surgeons from removing critical parts of the brain

"If you go a few millimeters to the right or left, you might delete their piano lessons or language ability, and that would be sorely missed," said Ned Sahin of Harvard University, one of the researchers who studied the language network.

Because the electrodes are already monitoring language ability in these patients, Sahin and his colleagues can conduct simple language experiments with willing participants and see language processing in real time; essentially, the electrodes offer a more fine-grained look at neural processes than other traditional brain-monitoring technologies, such as MRIs.

The language center

The main brain region Sahin and his colleagues looked at is called the Broca's area , located in the cerebral cortex. This region was discovered to be involved in language processing by the French physician Pierre Paul Broca in 1865.

But beyond knowing that the area is important to language production, "we still have been troublingly unable to pin it down," Sahin said. Whether or not the steps of the language production process happen in parallel or sequentially has been one particularly puzzling question about the brain .

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The new electrode study, detailed in the Oct. 16 issue of the journal Science, has set scientists one step closer to understanding the steps of language production in the brain, specifically word recall, the application of grammar (changing tense or number), and actually speaking the word.

By monitoring the brains of three patients while they performed a simple language task (looking at a word, then either using it in a sentence as is or changing its tense or number, and finally articulating it silently), Sahin and his colleagues found three distinct periods of activity in Broca's area at 200 milliseconds (after first being presented with the word), 320 milliseconds and 450 milliseconds.

These three spikes corresponded to the three basic components of language: words, grammar and phonology (the organization of sound). All three also fit within the roughly 600 milliseconds required for the onset of speech.

Distinct steps

The finding shows that Broca's area is involved in all three of these language production steps and shows that they happen at distinct points in time, not all at once in parallel, Sahin said.

While the research answers some questions about how the brain generates language, "this is just one piece in the puzzle," Sahin told LiveScience. It will take more study to further detail all the points of language in the brain: when they occur and what parts of the brain they happen in.

But the finding "may be the nail in the coffin" for one persistent, though long-discredited theory that Broca's area processes the speech part of language, while another area of the brain, called the Werneke's area, processes reading and learning words.

"It's not so simple as Broca's speaks and Werneke's listens," Sahin said.

Funding for the study came from the National Institutes of Health, the Mental Illness and Neuroscience Discovery Institute at Harvard, the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and the Harvard Mind/Brain/Behavior Initiative.

  • Top 10 Mysteries of the Mind
  • Learn More About the Workings of the Brain
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Andrea Thompson

Andrea Thompson is an associate editor at Scientific American, where she covers sustainability, energy and the environment. Prior to that, she was a senior writer covering climate science at Climate Central and a reporter and editor at Live Science, where she primarily covered Earth science and the environment. She holds a graduate degree in science health and environmental reporting from New York University, as well as a bachelor of science and and masters of science in atmospheric chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

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Updated: July 2, 2010

This is something that often comes to mind, albeit at a frontier of a thought already conceived. How fast are our thoughts? Are they physical? Or maybe a by-product of simple physical things like electric current and suchlike? Can thoughts be measured? If not, are they bound by physical laws? Could a thought be faster than the speed of light? If so, what happens when that happens? Is there such a thing as premonition? Can we forethink our thoughts? How does telepathy fit in here?

In this article, I'd like to be creative and discuss the delicate mechanism of our thinking. I'll try to answer all of the questions above without getting philosophical; just pure speculated physics. Well, the beauty about discussing phenomena that science has no formal definition is that anyone can talk about them any which way and sound smart, provided they use reasonably plausible arguments for their dissertation. Which is exactly what I'm going to do.

Teaser

Definition of thought

Let's try to define this - without getting too smarmy. We're talking physics here, after all! It is obvious there's neural activity inside our heads all the time. However, it is impossible to pinpoint thoughts to any particular electron or a change in quantum states of atoms. We can observe brain activity on a macro scale, but it tells us nothing about the product of that activity, only observed side effects.

This leads me to believe that thoughts are complex functions with possibly unreal eigenvalues, which explains why they cannot be observed, without contradicting the physics. However, this still might pose a problem if we limit our neurons and synaptic activity to classic electrochemical signaling. In this case, we must have wavefunctions with real values only.

An alternative explanation to the physical manifestation of thoughts would be the use of less known particles for signaling, similar to what I proposed in my Telepathy & Telekinesis article. Or we could be dealing with extremely low energies that are undetectable by modern equipment.

A third explanation is that thoughts are a direct, linear product of synaptic activity, although conceived from many thousands or millions of events. In fact, you might treat thoughts as the product of biological cryptography, with electric signals as raw data bits and external and internal stimuli as the encryption key. Which would explain why any attempt to measure thoughts outside the mind would appear as pure random noise.

Depending on which explanation you prefer, the debate of what we do with our mind changes. If you stick with the quantum theory, then we can definitely go beyond simple physics easily. Unknown particles and ultra-low energies place us in an uncharted territory that human instrumentation has not been able to measure yet. And the third explanation is the simplest and purely classic. Now, let's try to answer some fairly basic questions, based on these ramblings.

Some people are smarter - are their thoughts faster?

I would say no. It's like the question whether smarter people have bigger brains. The thoughts travel at the same speed for everyone, it's just that smarter people have more bandwidth. Think of your thoughts as a collection of thought packets. This works for all three cases. A wave group, a coupled state of thought particles (electroweak) or a collection of synaptic connections. Either way, the more the merrier. If you have a wide thought channel, you will be able to transfer more data in a shorter time, which explains why smarter people are indeed smarter.

Bandwidth

As to why some people will never be able to think about certain things, it could be the layout of brain topography, which dictates what the human CPU can do. If you do not have enough connections for a certain thought, then it will never happen. A simple analogy would be to try to encode a cipher than is larger than the entire RAM of a machine. There would be no place where to store it.

Faster than the speed of light

Thoughts can be faster than the speed of light, methinks. Proof? Deja vus. That's what happens when you exceed the speed of light and make time twitch. You create a temporal disturbance, although highly localized in your brain, which is then interpreted by our intellect as a delay in a thought already conceived in the past. This makes us think we just had this thought, which we did. We registered the thought twice, once as the super-physical faster-than-light disturbance and once as pure physical information that our senses can register.

This also explains why we have no idea that we just experienced a thought until we receive the information, because there's nothing to process the faster-than-light part. To make a simple analogy, think of spurious thoughts as superluminar phase. And this means that our thoughts are not quite bound by physics, although the process of cognition is. Well, this is a daring claim, but we'll talk about that some more quite soon. However, there's a mathematical contradiction.

Speed of thought

Intelligence

Another question you may ask is: are thoughts as fast as we thought them or as fast as we think we thought them? I'm not trying to be philosophical, but having a thought and understanding it is different. A good example is a physical reaction to change. If someone tries to slap you, you will blink, even though you may have not thought about it. So does this reflex constitute as a thought? No. And your understanding of the event will be as fast as your physical senses permit.

But what happens when the entire process is limited to internal processes in your brain? For example, if you're lying on a bed, with eyes closed and trying to solve a puzzle. There will be a moment when you figure out the puzzle, hopefully. You may ask yourselves how fast was the process of realization when you solved the puzzle? Mind, it's not the same as asking how fast was that thought.

Eureka

For all practical purposes, measuring change is near impossible. At best, you have an approximation of a step function, but any physical thing requires a reasonable amount of time to measure, lest you end up with infinite uncertainty. Therefore, trying to conceptualize thought is like trying to lift yourself off the ground - difficult.

Analogy to CPU ...

The only thing you can measure is the self-realization of thought that is currently active in your brain. Like context switching in CPU, with tasks coming in and out of the process queue. In fact, the creation of computers may be the closest thing to philosophical introspection the humans have made. While we cannot simulate the organic effects that occur in our brain, we sure can simulate the abstraction of communication between its elements, which is exactly what modern CPUs do. The ability to identify your thoughts is what I'd call intelligence and what separates people with different levels of smartness.

Thoughts & time

However, knowing the exact duration of thoughts is probably impossible. It may seem very short or very long or very sudden, but it could be nothing more than a simple chemical effect. Furthermore, our internal clock is also subject to the same principles, which is why time measurement is subjective.

And the principle that time runs faster when you have fun holds true; if you dedicate a large portion of your brain activity to having fun, the clock interrupts will be far and few in between, so you will experience fewer time ticks in a given physical time period. However, when you're bored, you will spend more time sampling your internal clock, thus ending with far more measured time in relation to physical time. Lastly, there's the superluminar phase, which might skew our understanding of the real time, creating a temporal illusion of past-future events, which we interpret as deja vus.

Some extras ...

Lastly, you may also be interested in this (direct link) article - The Speed of Thought: Investigation of a Complex Space-Time Metric to Describe Psychic Phenomena. Note: I'm not sure if this research has a homepage, so I grabbed the highest ranking search in Google. If you know of a better home to foster this article, feel free to email me. It has lots of equations in there, so it must be true or something. It deals with parapsychology, so it might be just a handful of sci-fi techno mumble, still worth a reading.

There you go. I just beat 150 years of philosophy to dust. Nothing mystical, just pure physics. How fast is human thought? Well, physically, no more than the speed of light, which still binds all the little particles, including those we do not quite know about yet. However, we could be experiencing deja vus as a manifestation of faster-than-light thought phase. Lastly, the speed of understanding is purely individual, faster in smarter individual and entirely dependent on external stimuli, which is why you don't take exams during a rock concert.

I hope you enjoyed this. In the sequel, I'll discuss dreams, based on this nonsense above.

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Be Careful, Your Thoughts Travel

by Gary | May 28, 2013 | Above the Line , Change Your Thoughts , Clarity in Business , Clarity in Life , Energy Work , Uncategorized | 2 comments

Last week Cathy and I went to my hometown in Nebraska for my 50 th high school reunion. While my thoughts and memories approaching this weekend could be excellent fodder for this blog, we had an experience that provides some anecdotal evidence that our thought energy is very powerful and can travel very long distances. Apparently, we don’t need a phone or a computer to communicate with our dogs when we are away.

cathy and dogs oct2012

Around midnight, my sister woke us saying we had to move to the basement. Central Nebraska was under an extreme weather warning and everyone was told to seek cover. We spent an hour waiting for the storm to pass through and then returned to bed. At 1:30 a.m. our dog sitter texted that Lucas had been acting very weird for the past couple of hours, running all around the house and bothering our other dog, Travis. She was concerned enough to wake us for advice. This was very unusual behavior, especially in the middle of the night.

Did he connect with Cathy’s concern about the weather? Did he connect with her inability to sleep because of the storm’s thunder and lightning? Or was it just an interesting coincidence that he was upset and exhibiting bizarre behavior at exactly the same time that we were feeling very nervous about the storm over our heads?

There have been many studies and research done that show your thoughts send out measurable energy past your own brain . We’ve all heard the anecdotal stories of people being aware of when their loved ones are in trouble before being told the actual information. I’ve mentioned before that we do an exercise in our retreats that shows how negative thinking can impact another person in the room – even when they are totally unaware of the negativity.

For me, it’s enough to know that my thoughts have a more powerful impact than I might normally consider. This gives me even more reason to be aware moment by moment what energy I am sending out to the world. Apparently, it not only impacts my energy, my intelligence, my health, my work but it also can disturb the animal world 400 miles away.

Makes you wonder doesn’t it? What impact are you making on the world with your thoughts? Are you sending out positive energy knowing it has an effect both on you and others near you? And, those thoughts may be influencing people far from you. So, be careful what you think. Thoughts can travel .

With this in mind, I suggest that 11 a.m. Mountain Time today as you finish reading this, send out this thought to the United States Congress – DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE!

Sending out only positive thoughts for miles and miles and miles,

Paula

When our father died in the middle of the night in California, both my sister (50 miles away) and I (1200 miles away) woke up thinking about him. Oddly, this didn’t happen nearly 30 years later with our mother — but he was only 68 and in full command of his faculties, while our mother was 97 and suffering from mild dementia.

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Paula, Thanks for sharing another example of thoughts traveling great distances.

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do thoughts travel

The Cardboard Breadman

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Do Thoughts Travel ?

Do thoughts travel; do they go anyplace; or simpy reside, anchored to the mind? Can they be explored, or even erased; how is it they’re changed or refined?

Do thoughts present themselves, beyond being; expanded beyond where you are; do they possess either hearing or seeing; are they known, both near and far?

Are thoughts, much like words; becoming flesh; do they have their own identity? Or, like a computer screen, do thoughts refresh; do they possess virginity?

What are these thoughts, in actuality; are they hiccups, within the brain? What do thoughts have to do with reality; from thought, can we ever refrain?

Do thoughts create the world all around; are they embryos of each word? Or, perhaps they are consciousness, found; does that seem even more absurd?

Do thoughts possess the power of wind; can they blow the leaves in the trees? Do all thoughts, arise; then descend; can they travel all about, with ease?

Thoughts are fragments of Light, resplendent; traversing paths, where no man hath trod; these thoughts, themselves, are independent; for they are all, the children of God.

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Gamma Mindset

How Your Thoughts and Feelings Travel Around Your Body…

Your organs and muscular system are encased with a kind of connective tissue called fascia. (See image below) This connective tissue fascia, when taken as a whole, is the largest organ of your body.

fascia

The molecules in this connective tissue network are structured in a highly regular parallel fashion. Molecules that have this type of structure are called ‘crystals’. We tend to think of crystals as hard things like diamonds or quartz, and we do not think of our bodies as having crystalline properties, but they actually do. When looked at under a microscope, these fascia structures reveal themselves to be soft, flexible liquid crystals, and we know from physics that crystalline structures are remarkable receivers of energy and information.

This is a crystalline structure that connects all parts of the body, making for a system-wide channel of communication. The information it carries is received not only from your cells, hormones and other biochemical substances, but also from your mind – your emotions, thoughts, perceptions and beliefs. It’s why we can say that the mind-body can be thought of not as two separate but connected systems, but as one seamless system.

As we have seen, our beliefs and perceptions are the basis for our thoughts and feelings. Our thoughts and feelings are waves of electromagnetic energy and information that permeate each and every cell in our mind-body system via this connective tissue crystalline matrix.

10500323_560433187412545_5427560598319484030_n

Cellular Biologist Dr Bruce Lipton explains;

“Every cell is a programmable chip, and the nucleus of the cell is the hard disk with programs. But, like a computer, it is the programmer that controls the disk, not the disk that controls the programmer.”

We are the programmers. These signals of our bodies work in a feedback loop with our brains, and both consciously and subconsciously govern our choices. Our choices, of course, drastically influence the condition of our lives.

The implications are immense.

As Dr Herbert Benson, pioneer of mind-body medicine, has said, after decades of research at Harvard Medical School and other places,

“We should not ignore compelling brain research that demonstrates that beliefs manifest themselves throughout our bodies.”

The fascia is known as the living matrix and is a systems-wide communication network, linking our thoughts, emotions and beliefs with our body, and vice versa. The living matrix means that quite literally what we think and feel in large measure is what we become, as each of our 50 to 100 trillion cells receives and sends information at lightning speed throughout our mind-body, communicating with all other cells like a vast inner computer network.

As esteemed physics Professor John Hagelin explains succinctly:

“It is important to recognise that our body is really the product of our thoughts, we are beginning to understand in medical science the degree to which the nature of our thoughts and emotions actually determine the physical substance and structure and function of our bodies.”

If thats not a good enough reason to update our belief systems and emotional reactions then i don’t know what is, what do you think?

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It feels instantaneous, but how long does it really take to think a thought?

do thoughts travel

Professor of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto

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do thoughts travel

As inquisitive beings, we are constantly questioning and quantifying the speed of various things. With a fair degree of accuracy, scientists have quantified the speed of light, the speed of sound , the speed at which the earth revolves around the sun , the speed at which hummingbirds beat their wings , the average speed of continental drift ….

These values are all well-characterized. But what about the speed of thought? It’s a challenging question that’s not easily answerable – but we can give it a shot.

do thoughts travel

First, some thoughts on thought

To quantify the speed of anything, one needs to identify its beginning and end. For our purposes, a “thought” will be defined as the mental activities engaged from the moment sensory information is received to the moment an action is initiated. This definition necessarily excludes many experiences and processes one might consider to be “thoughts.”

Here, a “thought” includes processes related to perception (determining what is in the environment and where), decision-making (determining what to do) and action-planning (determining how to do it). The distinction between, and independence of, each of these processes is blurry. Further, each of these processes, and perhaps even their sub-components, could be considered “thoughts” on their own. But we have to set our start- and endpoints somewhere to have any hope of tackling the question.

Finally, trying to identify one value for the “speed of thought” is a little like trying to identify one maximum speed for all forms of transportation, from bicycles to rockets. There are many different kinds of thoughts that can vary greatly in timescale. Consider the differences between simple, speedy reactions like the sprinter deciding to run after the crack of the starting pistol (on the order of 150 milliseconds [ms]), and more complex decisions like deciding when to change lanes while driving on a highway or figuring out the appropriate strategy to solve a math problem (on the order of seconds to minutes).

do thoughts travel

Thoughts are invisible, so what should we measure?

Thought is ultimately an internal and very individualized process that’s not readily observable. It relies on interactions across complex networks of neurons distributed throughout the peripheral and central nervous systems. Researchers can use imaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography , to see what areas of the nervous system are active during different thought processes, and how information flows through the nervous system. We’re still a long way from reliably relating these signals to the mental events they represent, though.

Many scientists consider the best proxy measure of the speed or efficiency of thought processes to be reaction time – the time from the onset of a specific signal to the moment an action is initiated. Indeed, researchers interested in assessing how fast information travels through the nervous system have used reaction time since the mid-1800s . This approach makes sense because thoughts are ultimately expressed through overt actions. Reaction time provides an index of how efficiently someone receives and interprets sensory information, decides what to do based on that information, and plans and initiates an action based on that decision.

do thoughts travel

Neural factors involved

The time it takes for all thoughts to occur is ultimately shaped by the characteristics of the neurons and the networks involved. Many things influence the speed at which information flows through the system, but three key factors are:

Distance – The farther signals need to travel, the longer the reaction time is going to be. Reaction times for movements of the foot are longer than for movements of the hand, in large part because the signals traveling to and from the brain have a longer distance to cover. This principle is readily demonstrated through reflexes (note, however, that reflexes are responses that occur without “thought” because they do not involve neurons that engaged in conscious thought). The key observation for the present purpose is that the same reflexes evoked in taller individuals tend to have longer response times than for shorter individuals. By way of analogy, if two couriers driving to New York leave at the same time and travel at exactly the same speed, a courier leaving from Washington, DC will always arrive before one leaving from Los Angeles.

Neuron characteristics – The width of the neuron is important. Signals are carried more quickly in neurons with larger diameters than those that are narrower – a courier will generally travel faster on wide multi-lane highways than on narrow country roads.

do thoughts travel

How much myelination a neuron has is also important. Some nerve cells have myelin cells that wrap around the neuron to provide a type of insulation sheath. The myelin sheath isn’t completely continuous along a neuron; there are small gaps in which the nerve cell is exposed. Nerve signals effectively jump from exposed section to exposed section instead of traveling the full extent of the neuronal surface. So signals move much faster in neurons that have myelin sheaths than in neurons that don’t. The message will get to New York sooner if it passes from cellphone tower to cellphone tower than if the courier drives the message along each and every inch of the road. In the human context, the signals carried by the large-diameter, myelinated neurons that link the spinal cord to the muscles can travel at speeds ranging from 70-120 meters per second (m/s) (156-270 miles per hour[mph]), while signals traveling along the same paths carried by the small-diameter, unmyelinated fibers of the pain receptors travel at speeds ranging from 0.5-2 m/s (1.1-4.4 mph). That’s quite a difference!

  • Complexity – Increasing the number of neurons involved in a thought means a greater absolute distance the signal needs to travel – which necessarily means more time. The courier from Washington, DC will take less time to get to New York with a direct route than if she travels to Chicago and Boston along the way. Further, more neurons mean more connections. Most neurons are not in physical contact with other neurons. Instead, most signals are passed via neurotransmitter molecules that travel across the small spaces between the nerve cells called synapses. This process takes more time (at least 0.5 ms per synapse) than if the signal was continually passed within the single neuron. The message carried from Washington, DC will take less time to get to New York if one single courier does the whole route than if multiple couriers are involved, stopping and handing over the message several times along the way. In truth, even the “simplest” thoughts involve multiple structures and hundreds of thousands of neurons.

do thoughts travel

How quickly it can happen

It’s amazing to consider that a given thought can be generated and acted on in less than 150 ms. Consider the sprinter at a starting line. The reception and perception of the crack of the starter’s gun, the decision to begin running, issuing of the movement commands, and generating muscle force to start running involves a network that begins in the inner ear and travels through numerous structures of the nervous system before reaching the muscles of the legs. All that can happen in literally half the time of a blink of an eye.

Although the time to initiate a sprint start is extremely short, a variety of factors can influence it. One is the loudness of the auditory “go” signal . Although reaction time tends to decrease as the loudness of the “go” increases, there appears to be a critical point in the range of 120-124 decibels where an additional decrease of approximately 18 ms can occur. That’s because sounds this loud can generate the “startle” response and trigger a pre-planned sprinting response.

Researchers think this triggered response emerges through activation of neural centers in the brain stem . These startle-elicited responses may be quicker because they involve a relatively shorter and less complex neural system – one that does not necessarily require the signal to travel all the way up to the more complex structures of the cerebral cortex. A debate could be had here as to whether or not these triggered responses are “thoughts,” because it can be questioned whether or not a true decision to act was made; but the reaction time differences of these responses illustrate the effect of neural factors such as distance and complexity. Involuntary reflexes, too, involve shorter and simpler circuitry and tend to take less time to execute than voluntary responses.

do thoughts travel

Perceptions of our thoughts and actions

Considering how quickly they do happen, it’s little wonder we often feel our thoughts and actions are nearly instantaneous. But it turns out we’re also poor judges of when our actions actually occur.

Although we’re aware of our thoughts and the resulting movements, an interesting dissociation has been observed between the time we think we initiate a movement and when that movement actually starts . In studies, researchers ask volunteers to watch a second hand rotate around a clock face and to complete a simple rapid finger or wrist movement, such as a key press, whenever they liked. After the clock hand had completed its rotation, the people were asked to identify where the hand was on the clock face when they started their own movement.

Surprisingly, people typically judge the onset of their movement to occur 75-100 ms prior to when it actually began. This difference cannot be accounted for simply by the time it takes for the movement commands to travel from the brain to the arm muscles (which is on the order of 16-25 ms). It’s unclear exactly why this misperception occurs, but it’s generally believed that people base their judgment of movement onset on the time of the decision to act and the prediction of the upcoming movement, instead of on the movement itself. These and other findings raise important questions about the planning and control of action and our sense of agency and control in the world – because our decision to act and our perception of when we act appear to be distinct from when we in fact do.

In sum, although quantifying a single “speed of thought” may never be possible, analyzing the time it takes to plan and complete actions provides important insights into how efficiently the nervous system completes these processes, and how changes associated with movement and cognitive disorders affect the efficiency of these mental activities.

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Frequency Diva

Understanding the Frequency of Thoughts: The Power of Human Frequencies and Vibrations

Posted on July 21st, 2023.

Welcome to Frequency Diva, your gateway to exploring the fascinating world of human frequencies and vibrations. 

At Frequency Diva, we provide cutting-edge AO Scan Digital Body Analyzer Services to help you tap into the power of frequency and enhance your overall well-being. 

In this blog post, we will delve into the captivating concept of the frequency of thoughts, exploring whether thoughts truly possess frequencies and vibrations, and how understanding these energetic aspects can impact your life.

Unraveling the Frequency of Thoughts

The concept of the frequency of thoughts delves into the very essence of human consciousness, offering a profound understanding of the connection between our mental experiences and the energetic fabric of the universe. In physics, frequency measures the rate of oscillations or cycles that occur per unit of time. Everything around us, from tangible objects to intangible thoughts, is composed of energy and resonates at specific vibrational frequencies. When we have thoughts or experience emotions, electrochemical reactions occur in the neural networks of our brain. These electrical impulses can be seen as energy in motion, and as a result, thoughts can be regarded as tangible forms of energy, carrying their own unique vibrational frequency.

The impact of thought frequencies goes beyond our internal state, affecting our interactions with others and the environment. The Law of Attraction suggests that like attracts like, and the frequencies emitted by our thoughts and emotions can attract corresponding energies from the universe, influencing the circumstances and experiences we encounter. By becoming more aware of our thought patterns, we gain the power to shape our experiences and emotions consciously, replacing limiting thoughts with empowering ones. Embracing the frequencies of empowerment can lead to positive transformations in our lives.

The Power of Frequency and Vibrations

The power of frequencies and vibrations extends beyond the world of thoughts and emotions; it is a fundamental aspect of the entire universe. Frequencies represent the number of oscillations or cycles that occur per unit of time, while vibrations refer to the rate at which particles vibrate or oscillate. From the smallest subatomic particles to the vast cosmic entities, everything in existence is composed of energy and exhibits its own unique vibrational frequency.

In the context of human consciousness, thoughts and emotions are not merely fleeting products of our brain's neural processes; they are tangible forms of energy that carry their own distinct frequencies. The vibrational nature of thoughts has fascinated scientists, philosophers, and spiritual thinkers alike. The idea that thoughts possess frequencies finds resonance in various fields, reflecting a shared understanding of the energetic interconnectedness of all things.

Understanding the power of frequencies and vibrations can revolutionize our perception of the world. Positive and uplifting thoughts are believed to align with higher frequencies, promoting feelings of joy, love, and gratitude. Conversely, negative thoughts and emotions are associated with lower frequencies, inducing feelings of fear, anger, or sadness. By embracing the power of frequencies, we gain the potential to shape our experiences , enhance our well-be ing, and create positive ripple effects in our lives and the lives of those around us.

Are Thoughts Vibrations? Understanding the Connection

The science of thoughts delves into the fascinating intersection of neuroscience and the nature of human consciousness. As we navigate life, our minds are in constant motion, generating an endless stream of thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. This flurry of mental activities is intricately linked to the brain's complex electrochemical processes, resulting in the creation of electrical signals that transmit information throughout our nervous system.

When we think, our brains undergo a series of electrochemical reactions involving neurons, synapses, and neurotransmitters. These reactions generate electrical impulses that travel along neural pathways, forming an intricate network of connections within the brain. The brain's electrical signals create measurable patterns that reflect the activity of our thoughts and emotions.

While neuroscience provides valuable insights into the workings of the brain, it does not encompass the full scope of the mind's complexities. The concept of thought frequencies goes beyond the realm of physical matter and delves into the realm of energy and consciousness. As energetic beings, our thoughts and emotions have the potential to influence the vibrational quality of our energy field, the aura.

The Human Vibration Frequency

The human vibration frequency is an intrinsic aspect of our existence, reflecting the energetic essence that defines us. As sentient beings, our physical bodies are interwoven with an energetic aspect known as the human energy field or aura. This field surrounds and permeates our physical form, interacting with the energies of the universe.

The human energy field is not merely a passive byproduct of our existence; rather, it is shaped by our thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Our vibrational frequency is influenced by the energetic quality of our thoughts and the emotions we harbor. Positive and loving thoughts tend to align with higher frequencies, while negative and fear-based thoughts resonate at lower frequencies.

When our thoughts and emotions are harmonious and in alignment with our values and desires, our vibrational frequency tends to be higher, creating a sense of coherence and well-being within ourselves and the environment. On the other hand, negative thoughts and emotions can lower our vibrational frequency, leading to feelings of dissonance and imbalance.

Understanding the human vibration frequency allows us to recognize our power to influence our own well-being and the world around us. By consciously cultivating positive thoughts and emotions, we can raise our vibrational frequency and create a more harmonious and fulfilling life.

Frequencies and Vibrations in the Human Energy Field

Beyond our physical body, we possess an energetic aspect known as the human energy field, often referred to as the aura. This field surrounds and permeates our physical form, interacting with the energies of the universe.

The Power of Frequency for Shaping Our Reality

Our thoughts, emotions, and intentions emit energetic frequencies that have the potential to shape our reality and influence the circumstances we encounter. Understanding and harnessing the power of frequency can lead to transformative changes in our lives and well-being. This means:

We are Co-Creators of Our Reality

As conscious beings, we are co-creators of our reality. The energetic frequencies emitted by our thoughts and emotions act as subtle energetic forces that interact with the universe. Like tuning forks resonating with specific frequencies, our thoughts and emotions attract corresponding energies from the vast cosmic symphony, shaping our experiences and interactions.

We Can Set Positive Intentions

Intentions are like seeds planted in the fertile ground of the universe. When we set clear and positive intentions, we align ourselves with higher frequencies, inviting positive energies into our lives. Our intentions act as guiding beacons, directing the flow of energy and manifesting our desires.

The Transformative Potential of Remote Frequency Scan

At Frequency Diva , we are dedicated to helping you harness the transformative power of frequency and vibrations for holistic well-being. Our Remote Frequency Scan is a cutting-edge service that provides invaluable insights into your energetic landscape, re-educates frequencies that have begun to vibrate incorrectly, and paves the way for profound shifts in your life.

Our Bundle Package includes all the following transformative scans to empower you on a journey of self-discovery and wellness:

  • Inner Voice Scan: Delving into the depths of your subconscious mind , this scan reveals hidden patterns and beliefs that may influence your thoughts and emotions. By consciously shifting limiting beliefs and aligning with empowering thought patterns, you open the door to a new level of self-empowerment and personal growth.
  • Vitals Scan: We conduct a comprehensive assessment of your body's essential functions, unveiling imbalances or energetic blockages that might impact your well-being. Harmonizing these imbalances allows you to raise your vibrational frequency, promoting overall health and vitality. Understanding your body's energetic state empowers you to take proactive steps towards optimal wellness.
  • Comprehensive Scan: This holistic evaluation of your body's energetic systems, provides a detailed understanding of the interconnectedness between your physical, mental, and emotional aspects. This allows us to target areas of disharmony and achieve greater balance and alignment on all levels of your being.

The frequency of thoughts is a compelling aspect of human existence that invites us to recognize the power we hold within. At Frequency Diva, we are dedicated to supporting you on your journey of self-discovery and empowerment.

If you're curious about the frequencies that shape your reality and want to explore the transformative AO Scan Digital Body Analyzer Services, we invite you to get in touch with us at (281) 627-1829 or reach out via email at [email protected] . 

Let us be your partner on this incredible path of discovering the energies that can enhance your life and well-being. Contact us today and embark on a profound journey of understanding and embracing the frequencies that empower you.

Posted on February 21th, 2024.

In today's bustling world, where stress and imbalances seem to lurk at every corner, achieving a harmonious state of being can feel like a distant dream. However, with the advent of cutting-edge technologies and the resurgence of an…

Are you ready to dive into the fascinating world of music frequencies and their profound impact on our emotions and brain function?

Join us on this captivating journey as we explore the mesmerizing connection between music, emotion…

Posted on November 17th, 2023.

Do you often find yourself struggling to manage your emotions? Are stress, anxiety, and overwhelming feelings taking a toll on your well-being? If so, you're not alone. Many individuals face emotional challenges in their daily lives.

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June 26, 2014 report

Physicist suggests speed of light might be slower than thought

by Bob Yirka , Phys.org

Supernova

(Phys.org) —Physicist James Franson of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County has captured the attention of the physics community by posting an article to the peer-reviewed New Journal of Physics in which he claims to have found evidence that suggests the speed of light as described by the theory of general relativity, is actually slower than has been thought.

The theory of general relativity suggests that light travels at a constant speed of 299,792,458 meters per second in a vacuum. It's the c in Einstein's famous equation after all, and virtually everything measured in the cosmos is based on it—in short, it's pretty important. But, what if it's wrong?

Franson's arguments are based on observations made of the supernova SN 1987A–it exploded in February 1987. Measurements here on Earth picked up the arrival of both photons and neutrinos from the blast but there was a problem—the arrival of the photons was later than expected, by 4.7 hours. Scientists at the time attributed it to a likelihood that the photons were actually from another source. But what if that wasn't what it was, Franson wonders, what if light slows down as it travels due to a property of photons known as vacuum polarization—where a photon splits into a positron and an electron, for a very short time before recombining back into a photon. That should create a gravitational differential, he notes, between the pair of particles, which, he theorizes, would have a tiny energy impact when they recombine—enough to cause a slight bit of a slowdown during travel. If such splitting and rejoining occurred many times with many photons on a journey of 168,000 light years, the distance between us and SN 1987A, it could easily add up to the 4.7 hour delay, he suggests.

If Franson's ideas turn out to be correct, virtually every measurement taken and used as a basis for cosmological theory , will be wrong. Light from the sun for example, would take longer to reach us than thought, and light coming from much more distant objects, such as from the Messier 81 galaxy, a distance of 12 million light years, would arrive noticeably later than has been calculated—about two weeks later. The implications are staggering—distances for celestial bodies would have to be recalculated and theories that were created to describe what has been observed would be thrown out. In some cases, astrophysicists would have to start all over from scratch.

Abstract The effects of physical interactions are usually incorporated into the quantum theory by including the corresponding terms in the Hamiltonian. Here we consider the effects of including the gravitational potential energy of massive particles in the Hamiltonian of quantum electrodynamics. This results in a predicted correction to the speed of light that is proportional to the fine structure constant. The correction to the speed of light obtained in this way depends on the gravitational potential and not the gravitational field, which is not gauge invariant and presumably nonphysical. Nevertheless, the predicted results are in reasonable agreement with experimental observations from Supernova 1987a.

Journal information: New Journal of Physics

© 2014 Phys.org

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The UK's most popular outdoor travel blog

Borobudur in Indonesia, the most multilingual country

95 most inspirational travel quotes ever penned

Our favourite inspirational travel quotes have encouraged us to travel with abandon over the years. Perhaps they will do the same for you…

For us, there is no such thing as luxury travel; travel is, by default, a luxury. It is a privilege provided by the country of our birth, a privilege that many are not as fortunate to enjoy.

Sometimes, we have to pinch ourselves at just how ridiculous our lives have become: an ex-teacher and jobbing writer travelling the world for a living. It is absurd, it is astonishing, it is luxury.

When I first went travelling at 21 years old, my father gave me this quote scrawled on a piece of card.

inspirational travel quotes

It infused me with wanderlust. It encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, make the most of my time, see the world and enjoy the freedom that comes with being on the road. It remains one of the most inspirational travel quotes I’ve read (even if Twain did not actually say it).

Today, 20 years and almost 100 countries later, it’s still in my wallet. Despite its tattered and dishevelled appearance, it’s every bit as important to me now as it was then.

With that in mind, we’ve collated our most beloved inspirational travel quotes to encourage readers to “explore, dream and discover” for themselves.

inspirational travel quotes

1. “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

2. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine

inspirational travel quotes

3. “Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage.” – Paulo Coelho

4. “With age, comes wisdom. With travel, comes understanding.” – Sandra Lake

do thoughts travel

5. “When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you’re visiting.” – Clint Borgen

6. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

inspirational travel quotes

7. “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.” – Paul Brandt

8. “The man who goes alone can start today; but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” – Henry David Thoreau

do thoughts travel

9. “The first condition of understanding a foreign country is to smell it.” – Rudyard Kipling

10. “A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

A journey of a thousand miles... inspirational travel quotes

11. “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” – Susan Heller Anderson

12. “No place is ever as bad as they tell you it’s going to be.” – Chuck Thompson

do thoughts travel

13. “We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

14. “A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu

A good traveler... inspirational travel quotes

15. “There is no moment of delight in any pilgrimage like the beginning of it.” – Charles Dudley Warner

16. “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for.” – John A. Shedd

do thoughts travel

17. “Tourists don’t know where they’ve been, travelers don’t know where they’re going.” – Paul Theroux

18. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien

Not all those who wander are lost... inspirational travel quotes

19. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

20. “Like all great travelers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen.” – Benjamin Disraeli

do thoughts travel

21. “Once a year, go somewhere you’ve never been before.” – The Dalai Lama

22. “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

How beautiful it is to travel... inspirational travel quotes

23. “What you’ve done becomes the judge of what you’re going to do – especially in other people’s minds. When you’re travelling, you are what you are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” – William Least Heat Moon

24. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveller only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

do thoughts travel

25. “Travel is glamorous only in retrospect.” – Paul Theroux

26. “A traveller without observation is a bird without wings.” – Moslih Eddin Saadi

Moslih Eddin Saadi inspirational travel quotes

27. “Your true traveller finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his liberty-his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely philosophically, but almost with pleasure.” – Aldous Huxley

28. “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” – Henry Miller

do thoughts travel

29. “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel Johnson

30. “Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.” – Anatole France

Wandering... travel quotes

31. “I can’t control the wind but I can adjust the sail.” – Ricky Skaggs

32. “We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfilment.” – Hilaire Belloc

Travel for fulfilment quote

33. “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at home.” – Dagobert D. Runes

34. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay at home.” – James Michener

James Michener inspirational travel quotes

35. “The use of travelling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson

36. “You don’t have to be rich to travel well.” – Eugene Fodor

Money isn't everything quote

37. “Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends.” – Maya Angelou

38. “All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” – Martin Buber

All journeys have secret destinations...

39. “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” – Robert Frost

40. “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” – Seneca

inspirational travel quotes

41. “Traveling is a brutality. It forces you to trust strangers and to lose sight of all that familiar comfort of home and friends. You are constantly off balance. Nothing is yours except the essential things – air, sleep, dreams, the sea, the sky – all things tending towards the eternal or what we imagine of it.” – Cesare Pavese

42. “Once the travel bug bites, there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” ― Michael Palin

Once the travel bug bites inspirational travel quote

43. “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.” – Tim Cahill

44. “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John Steinbeck

A journey is like marriage... inspirational travel quotes

45. “When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” – Clifton Fadiman

46. “There are far, far better things ahead than we leave behind.” – C.S. Lewis

There are better things ahead...

47. “Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” – Freya Stark

48. “To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.” – Aldous Huxley

To travel is to discover...

49. “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveller learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.” – Paul Fussell

50. “I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” – Mark Twain

Mark Twain Quote about travelling with friends

51. “The whole object of travel is not to set foot on foreign land; it is at last to set foot on one’s own country as a foreign land.” – G.K. Chesterton

52. “Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation.” – Elizabeth Drew

Travel broadens the mind inspirational travel quotes

53. “People don’t take trips, trips take people.” – John Steinbeck

54. “Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you’d drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It’s more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.” – Ray Bradbury

See the world quote by Ray Bradbury

55. “Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert

56. “The journey not the arrival matters.” – T. S. Eliot

The journey not the arrival matters

57. “Time flies. It’s up to you to be the navigator.” – Robert Orben

58. “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” – Marcel Proust

Marcel Proust quote

59. “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.” – Oscar Wilde

60. “For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

I travel for travel’s sake... inspirational travel quotes

61. “If an ass goes travelling, he’ll not come home a horse.” – Thomas Fuller

62. “Travelling tends to magnify all human emotions.” – Peter Hoeg

“Travelling tends to magnify all human emotions.”

63. “To move, to breathe, to fly, to float, To gain all while you give, To roam the roads of lands remote: To travel is to live.” – Hans Christian Andersen

64. “To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.” – Freya Stark

A strange town... inspirational travel quotes

65. “I am not the same having seen the moon shine from the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

66. “I always wonder why birds stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on earth. Then I ask myself the same question.” – Harun Yahya

Puffins rest on a rock

67. “I dislike feeling at home when I am abroad.” – George Bernard Shaw

68. “A wise traveler never despises his own country.” – Carlo Goldoni

A wise traveler... inspirational travel quotes

69. “Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide

70 “Traveling – it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta

Travelling can leave you speechless

71. “We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin

72. “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” – Miriam Beard

Travel is deep and permanent inspirational travel quotes

73. “The gladdest moment in human life, methinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” – Sir Richard Burton

74. “A man of ordinary talent will always be ordinary, whether he travels or not; but a man of superior talent will go to pieces if he remains forever in the same place.” – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

A tent beneath the stars

75. “He who would travel happily must travel light.” – Antoine de St. Exupery

76. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac

inspirational travel quotes

77. “The more I travelled the more I realised that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends.” – Shirley MacLaine

78. “Live your life by a compass, not a clock.” – Stephen Covey

Inspirational travel quote by Stephen Covey

78. “Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” – Lawrence Block

80. “Take only memories, leave only footprints.” – Chief Seattle – or Si’ahl

A man walking in the sand featuring the travel quote about footprints

81. “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller

82. “It is not down in any map; true places never are.” – Herman Melville

A travel quote from Moby Dick

83. “We live in a world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharlal Nehru

84. “The most beautiful thing in the world is, of course, the world itself” – Wallace Stevens

inspirational travel quote by Wallace Stevens over the blur hole in Belize

85. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch

86. “Paris is always a good idea.” – Julia Ormond (although it is often wrongly attributed to Audrey Hepburn)

A photo of the Eiffel Tower featuring the travel quote, Paris is always a good idea

87. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the trip.” – Babs Hoffman

88. “Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain

inspirational travel quote by Jaime Lyn Beatty over mountaineers

89. “Jobs fill your pocket but adventures fill your soul.” – Jaime Lyn Beatty

90. “It is in our nature to explore, to reach out into the unknown. The only true failure would be not to explore at all.” – Sir Ernest Shackleton

Shackleton's Endurance ship stranded on the ice in Antarctica with an inspirational travel quote

91. “Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” –  Jack Kerouac

92. “Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain

93. “Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets.” – Oscar Wilde

94. “Remember that happiness is a way of travel – not a destination.” – Roy M Goodman

95. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain (or possibly H Jackson Brown Jr )

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The Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List is the definitive wish list of the best places to visit on earth – the perfect accompaniment to our selection of inspirational travel quotes.

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24 Perspectives & Thoughts on Meaningful Travel

by Megan Lee April 14, 2023

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There are as many reasons to travel as there are gelato flavors to taste-test and awe-inspiring sunrises to groggily pull yourself out of bed for: to learn, to grow, to become, to breathe fresh air, to see new horizons, to dive into new depths, to hear strange words. But, don’t just take our word for it—there are plenty of fellow travelers out there that will back us up as to why traveling is good, and just how important meaningful travel is.

Man rowing a boat in a lake

Travel is all a matter of perspective—and here are some great ones.

To celebrate 20+ years in the world of making travel meaningful , we’re here to share 24 inspiring and unique perspectives on travel from our community, our colleagues, and our team. Read on!

24 reflections & thoughts on travel

Destiny Davis Headshot

1. Destiny Davis—Meaningful Traveler

Community Member | GoAbroad

Meaningful travel is the reason why I never hand individuals items with my left hand or why I would never allow the bottom of my feet to face a Buddha statue in a temple. Meaningful travel is learning respect. Meaningful travel is when you dive into a culture and leave with a greater understanding of a country, its physical atmosphere, people, and social climate. Meaningful travel is one of the most important types of travel, for not only is the traveler forever changed, but leaves an imprint and positive impact on the country he/she visits.

Umar Khan Meaningful traveler headshot

2. Umar Khan—Meaningful Traveler

Travel doesn’t mean leisure only, it is more than that. Travel means responsibility, care, opportunity, and learning. Responsibility for the environment—a meaningful traveler does not engage in any activity to pollute it. Care is to be given to the local community to respect them and buy from them. Opportunity is to do better at the destination, to invest in for the benefit of locals. Learning means to learn something new that you can later implement in your own life in your own country for the betterment and improvement of sustainable travel practices.

Amy Reuter McMillan IES Abroad

3. Amy Ruhter McMillan—International Educator

Associate VP of Marketing | IES Abroad

How has meaningful travel changed in the last 20 years? The one thing that never changes about travel is how extraordinary the people in this field are. Attend any youth travel-related conference or event, and it will be full of people to admire. People who are committed to study abroad and international exchange. People ultimately committed to international education because we believe it can and will change the world. People who have seen first-hand that it IS changing the world.

Kate Mosser GoAbroad writer

4. Kate Mosser—GoAbroad Team Member

Writer's Academy Alumni | GoAbroad

Travel creates new situations for you, where you can explore who you are in different contexts. Every time you're presented with something new, you have the opportunity to write the story of who you are. And everywhere you go, you have the opportunity to tell that story. Therein lies the magic of travel: it shapes you at precisely the same time you are shaping it. Whether this is on a camel ride across the Sahara or a bus trip into the next city, you are constantly encountering and creating the new you, and that gives meaning to all travel.

Charmaine Yip Travel Blogger

5. Charmaine Yip—Travel Blogger

Blogger | The Canadian Wanderer

Meaningful travel is stepping out of what you know into a realm that you don't know and to see the best of both worlds. 

It is the ability to compare and contrast and to see the advantages and disadvantages of both places and learning to be grateful of where you come from. 

Nicole Powers GoAbroad CCO

6. Nicole Powers—GoAbroad Team Member

CCO | GoAbroad

It's important to realize these trips are not separate from our everyday lives. They are windows into shared human experience. The people we meet abroad are living their normal life each day—buying groceries, picking their kids up from school, arguing with their boyfriends, figuring out how to pay their rent. This is the most powerful and meaningful part of travel—when your perspective changes from assuming difference to discovering similarity. The only way to care about someone is to identify with them, and the quickest way to that point is on an airplane.

Steph Dyson Meaningful Traveler Writer

7. Steph Dyson—Meaningful Traveler

Travel Goddess/Blogger | WorldlyAdventurer

Meaningful travel is recognising that visiting a country is not just about the photographs you take: it is about setting aside the camera and become a participant in what you see before you. It is the recognition that travel is a two-way process: we must be willing to give something in exchange for being welcomed into communities and shown kindness by people who have little else that they can offer.

Alyssa Nota USAC

8. Alyssa Nota—International Educator

CEO/President | USAC Study Abroad

More and more people are seeing the unequalled value of education abroad, language learning and the immense personal growth that occurs when one is forced from one's "familiar" into the "unknown" or "different." Technology has made the world smaller. Financial support in various forms has made the far corners of the globe more easily reached. Study abroad programs have transformed into innumerable formats, durations, types and destinations. All of this has brought study abroad into the scope of far more students than ever before - and this can only be considered a good thing.

Suzanne Bhagan GoAbroad Writer

9. Suzanne Bhagan—GoAbroad Team Member

Meaningful Travel Insider | GoAbroad

For me, meaningful travel is not a competition to see who gets to visit the most places first. It certainly does not mean treating foreign countries like cool selfie backdrops or commodities I can tick off a bucket list. It's about me trying to engage more deeply with a location, people, and culture, which also causes me to interrogate my prejudices from home. Above all, it teaches me that I’m part of a whole—the whole of the human race.

10. Antoaneta Antonova Atanassova—International Educator

Antoaneta Antonova Atanassova International Educator

Founding President | Mexican Council for Cultural Diplomacy

If I don´t learn about the culture of the place I am visiting, I don’t feel I’ve traveled at all. The culture and the personal interactions of a new place are the object of my learning, and serve as an effective form to compare reality to the cultural bias existing in the media—and to ultimately break paradigms. Travel, interact, feel, analyze, and learn; then, your intercultural competences will grow.

Lara Jeich Meaningful Traveler Writer

11. Lara Jeich—Meaningful Traveler

Be open-minded, eager to observe, to learn, to adapt. Be open to relate with people, learn and EXPLORE! Be cautious, but don’t stop being adventurous, live the moment and take the best of it. If someone has an advice, take it, you never know when it could come in handy. GET INVOLVED!...with the places you go, the nature that surrounds you, and the people you meet. If you have an opportunity to participate in a local project, never doubt it! It will be the most rewarding experience you could ask for. Traveling can be transforming. Nevertheless, it has to be a “conscious traveling,” the kind that gets you out of your comfort zone.

Kayla Patterson GoAbroad COO

12. Kayla Patterson—GoAbroad Team Member

COO | GoAbroad

Something magical happens when we travel meaningfully. When we step outside our comfort zone, intentionally immerse ourselves in another culture, and learn more about the places we visit, it changes us. Our fundamental views of the world, ourselves, and relationships shift. We realize that before these experiences, our eyes weren’t wide open and we lacked a profound understanding of our place in the world.

Ali Gaffey Meaningful Traveler

13. Ali Gaffey—Meaningful Traveler

While travel is likely meaningful to the traveler on a emotional level, the term "meaningful travel" refers to a purpose rather than simply the destination. As humans, we are constantly searching for meaningful interactions with each other. Travel allows us to share experiences with people and places different from our norm. Meaningful travel makes us better citizens of the world and keep us desiring for more. 

Sunny Fitzgerald Travel Blogger

14. Sunny Fitzgerald—Travel Blogger

Founder | FROLIQ

Don't be so focused on your own journey that you forget to look up and connect with people around you that are all on journeys of their own. Other countries and communities don't just exist for your pleasure. 

Yes, of course, take time to learn and challenge yourself. But, don't forget to get to know the people and places where you travel. What meaning can any trip or life have if it's void of the connection with the journeys that are interwoven with your own?

15. Louise Lieselotte Katharina Mayer—Meaningful Traveler

Louise Lieselotte Katharina Mayer Meaningful Traveler

Meaningful travel is not about the number of "likes" on your Instagram picture or checking off five star sights because TripAdvisor told you to. It has nothing to do with images portrayed or perception of what makes a true "traveler." Traveling with meaning comes from personal growth. It is a chance to challenge yourself and to absorb everything you possibly can, so that you can continue the cycle and give back once again to the world. 

Rebecca Schwab Kahal Abroad

16. Rebecca Schwab—International Educator

Campus Operations Director | Kahal Abroad

Meaningful travel means an opportunity to see the world differently than you ever have before and reflect upon how far you've have come to be standing where you are. Being abroad is a once in a lifetime experience where you develop as a person in a completely new world; I hope more students take advantage of the blank slate being abroad gifts you.

Sara Engelhard Meaningful Traveler

17. Sara Engelhard—Meaningful Traveler

To me, the phrase “meaningful travel” is redundant. All travel is meaningful; however, I do think that “meaningful” is a spectrum. At the highest end of the spectrum, there is travel that transforms not only you, but those who you meet. In even the smallest of ways, “meaningful travel” changes the world.

David Hayes Meaningful Traveler

18. David Hayes—Meaningful Traveler

Don’t take that picture that literally every other foreigner visiting that place has taken, and never underestimate the power of simply "hanging out" with local folks. People shine their brightest in their moments of normalcy. Join them.

Vianna Renaud International Educator

19. Vianna Renaud—International Educator

Placement Development Advisor | Bournemouth University

Meaningful travel, to me, is an international experience that makes you think and creates an impact. Even during the most difficult moments, I know that my life has been much more enriched from living abroad.

20. Kendall Dick—GoAbroad Team Member

Kendall Dick GoAbroad Writer

Meaningful travel is not just a trip or a vacation, it is a journey. But it’s not always as appealing as a picture on the cover of a study abroad brochure. The word “travel” is derived from the world travail, which means painful or laborious effort. 

Meaningful travel promises trials, but in the end, it offers a life changing opportunity for someone else as well as yourself.

Elsa Thomasma Alingasa GoAbroad SEM Executive

21. Elsa Thomasma Alingasa—GoAbroad Team Member

SEM & Content Executive | GoAbroad

Traveling to a new place always makes me realize how many extraordinary people, cultures, and places exist in the world, each one unique and beautiful in its own way. It restores my faith in humanity and the future of our planet, by introducing me to kind, generous, accepting people from all walks of life. Traveling reminds me that media reports are never representative of entire populations, ethnicities, regions, or points in history. When I travel, I find myself continuously redefining what it means to be human, and more importantly, a humanitarian.

Anna Vatuone Meaningful traveler

22. Anna Vatuone—Meaningful Traveler

I love the way a stranger looks when your first approach them. The way their eyes brighten and their smile curls in anticipation for the words soon escaping your mouth. I love the feeling of a fresh conversation, the way it revives you, the way it awakens you. Crossing paths. I can tell you of nothing more powerful, to meet the very people that make up a place. So, I suppose if you were to ask me what meaningful travel is, I would tell you it’s thanks to the people you meet along the way. 

Mary Ellen Dingley GoAbroad Writer

23. Mary Ellen Dingley—GoAbroad Team Member

Meaningful travel does one of two things—it puts us in touch with others, or with ourselves. Meaningful travel happens when we are open to receiving the stories of people on the other side of the globe, whether through building personal connections or through the local art or history. Meaningful travel can also, as one fellow traveler said, make us "come face to face with ourselves." While lost in strange cities or gaping at mountain ranges, I learned more of who I was. While what is “meaningful” to a traveler may change, the desire for intentional, immersive travel never will. 

Shelby Lisieski Meaningful Traveler

24. Shelby Sage Lisieski—Meaningful Traveler

Meaningful travel for me goes beyond sight. One can travel thousands of miles to "see" a certain attraction, however, if only the sense of sight is used, are you fully taking in and embracing all that is around you? Personally speaking, I enjoy taking time to fully immerse in a new travel destination and all it has to offer. The differentiating tastes, the aromas that surround you, the continuous sounds of everyday life, the feelings of objects foreign to what you are used to, and last but not least the entrancing sights. Meaningful travel to Shelby Sage Lisieski means that I become intertwined with the surroundings (living and inanimate), and to always have my five senses strapped to me at all times!

Feeling inspired yet?

Yeah, us too—these thoughts on travel get us pumped. Excuse us while we bite the bullet and actually book one of those Scott’s Cheap Travel flights…

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do thoughts travel

Top 10 Things to Do in Turks and Caicos Islands on Your Honeymoon

W ith its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life, Turks and Caicos stands as the perfect destination for honeymooners from around the globe. Whether you’re yearning for relaxation on sun-soaked beaches, adventurous water sports, or intimate dinners under the stars, this archipelago promises an unforgettable experience for couples.

In this guide, we unveil the top 10 activities that make Turks and Caicos the ultimate romantic getaway for your honeymoon. From exploring the enchanting underwater world to indulging in the luxurious island lifestyle, prepare to fall in love all over again in this paradise.

Things to Do in Turks and Caicos

Exploring the enchanting islands of Turks and Caicos opens up a treasure trove of activities that promise to make every moment memorable. From the serene beauty of its pristine beaches to the thrill of underwater adventures, there’s something for every type of traveler. Here’s a curated list of not-to-miss experiences that are sure to enrich your visit.

1. Enjoy an All-Inclusive Resort

Choosing the right place to stay is critical to the enjoyment of your honeymoon in Turks and Caicos. While the islands host a range of accommodations, from cozy hotels to luxurious resorts, not every option provides the same level of service or amenities. After all the planning and anticipation, you deserve nothing but the best.

At the forefront of luxurious stays is the all-encompassing Beaches Resort in Providenciales. This magnificent resort encompasses five villages, each showcasing an exquisite blend of Italian, French, and Caribbean architectural designs.

The kid-at-heart will delight in the 45,000-square-foot water park, suitable for both children and adults, offering endless fun under the sun. Dining options are vast, with 21 restaurants catering to every palate, alongside ten pools for leisurely swims and a stunning 12-mile beach for those serene walks by the sea.

For the ultimate in luxury and convenience, the Key West 4 Bedroom Villa stands out, offering beachfront views, a private pool, and personal butler service. With its all-inclusive package, Beaches Resort ensures a worry-free vacation where every detail is taken care of, allowing you to make the most of your time in paradise.

2. Go Beach Hopping

Turks and Caicos is famous for its exquisite beaches, each offering its unique charm and beauty. Going beach hopping is a must-do for any visitor, allowing you to experience the diversity of the island’s coastal landscapes.

From the powdery soft sands to the crystal clear waters, every beach presents a perfect setting for relaxation, water sports, or simply soaking in the breathtaking views. Here are some of the most popular beaches to add to your beach-hopping itinerary:

Grace Bay Beach

Grace Bay Beach is often listed among the top beaches in the world. Its incredibly clear water, coral reefs for snorkeling, and miles of soft white sand make it a paradise for beach lovers.

Long Bay Beach

Long Bay Beach is the go-to spot for kite surfers because of its consistent winds and shallow waters. Besides water sports, its unspoiled beauty provides a serene escape.

Sapodilla Bay Beach

For those seeking a quieter, more secluded beach, Sapodilla Bay offers calm waters. It’s a peaceful place to relax and soak up the sun.

Taylor Bay Beach

Taylor Bay features shallow, calm waters with soft sand, enclosed by a crescent-shaped beach. It’s somewhat of a hidden gem, perfect for visitors who prefer a more private beach experience.

3. Go Shopping

Shopping in Turks and Caicos is a delightful experience that blends the charm of the islands with a variety of retail opportunities. Whether you’re looking for luxury items, local crafts, or duty-free goods, the islands cater to every taste and budget.

For those seeking a tangible memory of their trip, local markets and boutiques offer exclusive Caribbean treasures, from hand-made jewelry to vibrant art pieces by local artists. Exploring the shopping scene is not just about what you buy but also about the experience of discovering the islands’ unique cultural and artistic expressions.

Regent Village

Regent Village is known as “the heart of Provo” and is the premier shopping and dining complex in Providenciales. Here, you can find a fabulous selection of high-end boutiques, art galleries, and eateries, all within a beautifully designed outdoor setting.

Saltmills Plaza

Adjacent to Regent Village, Saltmills Plaza offers more shopping options with a focus on local art, souvenirs, and apparel. It’s the perfect place to pick up unique gifts and to support local artisans.

Grace Bay Market

Grace Bay Market offers a more authentic shopping experience. Here, you can purchase fresh local produce, handmade crafts, and delicious street food. It’s a great spot to mingle with locals and enjoy the island’s vibrant culture.

4. Taste the Local Flavors

The Caribbean has a different flavor in its dishes. If you’re staying at an all-inclusive resort, all your meals will be included in the package, so you might want to eat only at the resort.

However, it’s always important to immerse yourself in the local culture. If you’re out on the town, try out some of our top pics for places to eat in Turks and Caicos:

Caribbean Element

Caribbean Element offers a fusion of Caribbean and International cuisine, using locally sourced ingredients to create unique and flavorful dishes. Their seafood dishes are especially recommended, as the island’s fresh catch is always delicious.

It’s abuzz with soft jazz and carries a chill ambiance. When you’re here, try their coconut curry sauce with fish or lobster.

Located in the heart of Grace Bay, Shay Café is a cozy spot serving up delicious breakfast and lunch options. Try their popular conch fritters or flavorful jerk chicken wrap for an authentic taste of the Caribbean.

Da Conch Shack

One of the most popular spots for visitors and locals alike, Da Conch Shack is a must-visit for authentic seafood dishes. Located right on the beach, enjoy their famous cracked conch or fresh lobster while taking in the stunning ocean views.

5. Try snorkeling

Snorkeling in Turks and Caicos is a must-do for anyone visiting the islands. Some of the best places for snorkeling include Smith’s Reef and Bight Reef (also known as Coral Gardens), where the clarity of the water makes it easy to spot a wide variety of marine life. It includes colorful coral gardens and the possibility of seeing graceful sea turtles and vibrant schools of tropical fish. Governor’s Beach on Grand Turk is not only famous for its white sand and clear blue waters but also for incredible snorkeling, with the possibility of encountering rays, lobsters, and even small sharks.

6. Take a 4WD tour

Explore the rugged terrain and off-the-beaten-path wonders of the islands with a 4WD tour. These tours generally take you through the winding trails of Mudjin Harbour.

The Harbour is famous for its dramatic cliffs. The cliffs give you a front-row seat to some of the most breathtaking vistas the islands have to offer.

The highlight of a 4WD tour is often crossing Flamingo Pond Overlook, where you will be able to get up close and personal with one of nature’s most treasured sites – a flock of pink flamingos. Other popular stops on a 4WD tour include Conch Bar Caves, where you can explore the largest cave system in the Caribbean, and Blue Hills Village, a charming local settlement with colorful houses and friendly locals.

7. Paddle Through Paradise on a Kayak

Whether you’re gliding through the calm bays or navigating the islands’ hidden mangrove forests, kayaking provides an up-close exploration of these tropical paradises. One of the must-visit kayaking spots is the Bottle Creek Lagoon, a natural reserve located on the north side of North Caicos.

Kayaking in this vast lagoon is an opportunity to discover the area’s rich wildlife and ecosystems. Pelicans, iguanas, turtles, and tropical fish are just some examples of the diverse species you may encounter during your journey. If you’re lucky enough, you might even spot a graceful stingray or baby shark!

Another notable destination is Mangrove Cay. This uninhabited cay offers calm and crystal-clear waters, perfect for kayaking and snorkeling.

For a more challenging adventure, head to Chalk Sound National Park . This stunning natural reserve offers turquoise waters and small cays to explore, providing a unique perspective of the island from the water.

8. Discover the Islands by Golf Cart

Exploring the islands becomes an adventure in itself with the availability of golf cart rentals. These islands are perfectly suited for zipping around their picturesque streets in these nimble, lightweight vehicles.

Offering mostly 4-seater options, with 6-seater variants available for larger families or groups, golf carts present a one-of-a-kind way to experience the local ambiance. Rentals are conveniently available on a daily or weekly basis, the latter being a cost-effective option for extended stays.

Having a golf cart at your disposal means the freedom to explore local attractions at your own pace, any time you desire. Far from being mere transportation, these carts turn every ride into a delightful adventure.

Despite the additional cost of gas, their efficient fuel consumption makes them an economical choice for getting around. Most rental providers include a detailed map of the islands to ensure a smooth adventure, allowing you to easily find your way to the must-see destinations.

9. Sail on a Catamaran

Set sail on a breathtaking voyage across the azure waters of Grace Bay aboard a catamaran. This sailing adventure brings you face-to-face with the rich marine life of Turks and Caicos. Including the playful dolphins known to grace these waters!

There are generally opportunities to go snorkeling, and a stop in the perfect area will be arranged. This pause in your cruise lets you dive into the refreshing waters and explore the colorful underwater ecosystem. Many tours provide snorkeling gear and the option for a guided snorkeling tour. Or, just jump in and explore on your own!

At Little Water Cay, you’ll see the native iguanas basking in their natural habitat and admire the island’s unique flora. Select tours include lunch and drinks, allowing you to savor a light meal and refreshing beverages amidst the landscape before you make your way back.

10. Go on a Whale-Watching Charter

Come face-to-face with nature’s gentle giants on a specialty whale-watching charter, an activity that promises to be one of the most unforgettable highlights of your honeymoon in Turks and Caicos. Whale-watching tours are conducted aboard a state-of-the-art power catamaran equipped with an elevated flybridge, providing you with an unparalleled vantage point for spotting these magnificent creatures.

With the guidance of an onboard marine biologist and the innovative use of a hydrophone system to pick up whale songs, the quest for these serene beings becomes not just a search but an educational voyage. Once a whale is detected, the catamaran carefully approaches, ensuring a respectful distance that does not disturb the whales. It’s not uncommon for these curious creatures to venture close to the boat, allowing you to get up and close and personal with these amazing whales.

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Turks and Caicos Islands

As you can see, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer an abundance of activities for honeymooners to enjoy. Whether you prefer adventurous pursuits or more laid-back experiences, these islands have something for everyone.

From exploring marine life to savoring delectable local cuisine, make sure to add these top 10 things to do in the Turks and Caicos Islands to your honeymoon itinerary. So pack your bags, book your tickets, and get ready for an unforgettable honeymoon experience in the breathtakingly beautiful islands.

With its crystal clear waters, pristine beaches, and endless opportunities for adventure and relaxation, this Caribbean paradise is the perfect destination for your dream honeymoon. So why wait? Start planning now and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!

With its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant marine life, Turks and Caicos stands as the perfect destination for honeymooners from around the globe. Whether you’re yearning for relaxation on sun-soaked beaches, adventurous water sports, or intimate dinners under the stars, this archipelago promises an unforgettable experience for couples. In this guide, we unveil the top 10 activities that make Turks and Caicos the ultimate romantic getaway for your honeymoon. From exploring the enchanting underwater world to indulging in the luxurious island lifestyle, prepare to fall in love all over again in this paradise. Things to Do in Turks and... View Article

Why travel feels longer on the way home

How can one leg of a trip seem so much different than the other psychologists and travel experts explain..

do thoughts travel

The vacation is over. You’ve soaked up sun in the Caribbean, and now you must embark on the slog back to reality. On the way there, you were jazzed and distracted (did I pack enough underwear ? Did we turn off the heater ?); the travel day went by in a scramble.

Going home is another story. The same three-hour journey seems to drag on between layovers, traffic and rest stop food . The Biscoff has lost its novelty; the in-flight movies fall flat. As the minutes drip, you start to wonder “How did we ever do this?” and “Why god, why?” You swear to never to leave the house again.

How can one way feel so different than the other?

How optimism impacts your perceived ETA

When they say “it’s the journey, not the destination,” it’s the trip there we romanticize, not necessarily the trip home.

Yonason Goldson , an author and ethicist, says when we travel to a new place, we’re in a better head space. “There’s the expectation that something more exciting, something more interesting, something new, something fun is waiting for us,” he said. “That makes the trip part of the experience.”

By contrast, the trip home feels anticlimactic, Goldson says.

Neuropsychologist Sanam Hafeez , who practices in New York City, says it’s similar to the experience of your daily commute. On the way to work, you’re starting the day fresh with a lot on your plate. But when you’re exhausted at the end of the day, the sentiment is more, “I just want to get home already,” she said.

Hafeez experiences this after long weekends at her vacation home in the mountains. She’s done the drive enough that there’s no mystery as to how long it takes; just the mounting pile of chores looming in her future.

“That’s been my experience, especially flying coast to coast,” Gary Small, chair of psychiatry at the Hackensack University Medical Center and author of “The Memory Bible.” “You’re really anticipating getting home, seeing the family. You’ve had enough.”

Small likens it to being back in school. Toward the end of the day “we were always looking at that clock and waiting for it to hit 3:15, and those last minutes seem to take forever,” he said. “We wanted to get out and go home and play. The psychological component really colors it.”

Or maybe it’s the oncoming weight of post-vacation blues . The Germans even have a word for it, says travel planner Sandra Weinacht: Post-Urlaubsdepression. Translation: the depression after the vacation. As the saying goes: time flies when you’re having fun. Perhaps time crawls when you’re sad.

When the trip home doesn’t feel longer

In a highly unscientific poll I conducted on Instagram Stories , 126 responders said travel feels longer on the way home, while 41 said it feels longer on the way there. A handful of participants from the latter camp sent messages emphatically defending their experience.

Sometimes the journey back feels shorter because it is shorter thanks to the phenomenon of tailwinds — particularly when flying east — which can speed planes up. This could obviously work in reverse, making the trip there shorter.

But sometimes, it’s just a feeling. Hafeez and Small point to the “ return trip effect ” which argues that the first leg of a trip can feel longer because of our tendency to inaccurately predict how long it will take. We may guess the way there will go by quicker than it does, and end up having a “ violation of expectation ” as a result.

“On the way back, because you’ve already experienced the longer trip, the return can actually feel shorter by comparison,” Hafeez said.

It could also be that by the return trip, you’ve had some practice. The way there may feel mentally strenuous, but once you’ve gotten to know the route, Small says it can feel less challenging.

No novelty, no shortcuts

The return trip effect usually occurs when you’re traveling somewhere for the first time. So if you’re taking your usual summer vacation — the kind of trip you know so well you could get there with your eyes closed — the return can seem to stretch.

Small recommends introducing some novelty into the trip home to take the edge off. “That’s where the time distortion comes in,” he said. “Focusing on the anticipation of getting there rather than focusing on the moment and enjoying it.”

As a brain health and memory expert, Small often recommends people “train but don’t strain your brain.” He says that can be doing puzzles (if you’re not driving, obviously), engaging in conversations or taking different routes to challenge your mind during transit.

“When you don’t know the route and you’re discovering it, you’re kind of in the moment rather than anticipating the future,” Small said.

Hafeez recommends downloading plenty of podcasts or audiobooks , or arranging phone dates with people you’d like to catch up with if you’re going to be in the car a long time.

Or you can tweak how you travel altogether. Susan Sherren, founder of the travel agency Couture Trips , encourages clients to plan trips with a “bell curve” itinerary. Ease into the vacation, crescendo into the exciting, action-packed days, then slow down the pace before it’s over so you’re not left feeling as frazzled.

You can also plan activities to look forward to when you get home to soften a crash landing back into your normal routine. Every time I pad my trip with a buffer day , I am eternally grateful.

More travel tips

Vacation planning: Start with a strategy to maximize days off by taking PTO around holidays. Experts recommend taking multiple short trips for peak happiness . Want to take an ambitious trip? Here are 12 destinations to try this year — without crowds.

Cheap flights: Follow our best advice for scoring low airfare , including setting flight price alerts and subscribing to deal newsletters. If you’re set on an expensive getaway, here’s a plan to save up without straining your credit limit.

Airport chaos: We’ve got advice for every scenario , from canceled flights to lost luggage . Stuck at the rental car counter? These tips can speed up the process. And following these 52 rules of flying should make the experience better for everyone.

Expert advice: Our By The Way Concierge solves readers’ dilemmas , including whether it’s okay to ditch a partner at security, or what happens if you get caught flying with weed . Submit your question here . Or you could look to the gurus: Lonely Planet and Rick Steves .

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How to tell your kids someone they love has been diagnosed with cancer — amid kate middleton’s battle.

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It’s “going to be OK.”

Kate Middleton has revealed that she gently informed her three children of her cancer diagnosis in an “appropriate way” and reassured them that she is “going to be OK.”

In a video message, the Princess of Wales said she needed time to come to terms with her condition and share the news with her children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, before telling the world.

Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis announcement

“It’s such a difficult thing to explain to any family member but most especially children,” Dr. Karen E. Knudsen, the CEO of the American Cancer Society, told The Post. “It’s a really challenging thing to disclose to them. I think it’s a highly personal disclosure.”

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. About 1.9 million new cancer diagnoses and 609,360 cancer-related deaths are expected to occur in the US in 2022 — about 1,670 deaths a day — according to the American Cancer Society .

Knudsen said the ACS provides “guidance for individuals to talk to their family members and caregivers” since “seeking counseling support, psychosocial support for families has been shown to be very helpful in these types of scenarios.”

When do I tell my child someone they love has been diagnosed with cancer?

“It’s important for communication with children to be done in a timely manner,” Elizabeth Farrell, lead clinical social worker Dana-Farber Cancer, told The Post.

She recommends having a conversation “as soon as you have the information, you’ve had a little bit of time to absorb it yourself, and you’ve been able to get clarity around what’s going on, what it’s going to entail and the treatment of your cancer.”

The expert recommends trying to tell them at home when they have time and space to process — a Friday afternoon is preferable to allow them as much time as possible before returning to school.

“Allow a space for your child to process the information, share their emotions, voice their concerns and ask questions,” Dr. Kendra Parris of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital told The Post.

Mother Having Serious Conversation With Worried Young Daughter At Home

What do I tell my child?

Parris said that conversations with kids depend on their “age, developmental level, personality and ability to cope.”

“Young children typically need information that is more concrete and basic, and discussions with younger children may be briefer. Older children and teenagers have often heard about cancer before but may still harbor misconceptions,” Parris explained.

Every child is different but providing as much information as possible will allow them to better cope with the situation.

“It’s helpful if you already know what the plan looks like so that you can sort of prepare a little bit for some of those questions that might be coming your way,” Farrell shared.

She advises parents to say: “Here’s what we know. Here’s what’s happening. Here’s what the plan is going to look like, and here’s how it’s going to impact you directly.”

But don’t stay too scripted. Allow your child to guide the conversation with whatever questions they have.

“I think we all have ideas about what our kids would want to know. But then often can be surprised by what actually is most on their mind,” Farrell noted.

Portrait of a teenage boy son talking to his father at home

How often do I update my child?

Children should be updated on any major changes to the treatment plan or prognosis. But they should also be encouraged to come to you with any questions they may have at any point in the process.

“Let them know that the first conversation isn’t going to be the only time you have a conversation,” Farrell advised.

The expert noted that these conversations don’t have to be formal sit-downs but can take place in any way that feels comfortable.

Who else in my child’s life needs to know?

Experts note that it’s really important to involve your child’s teachers, guidance counselors and anyone in their inner circle to make them aware and keep them alert to notice any changes in their behavior.

“They can be another set of eyes for you and be mindful of what’s happening at home,” Farrell explained.

“Keep them in the loop to notice what might be happening, especially if it’s going to involve any kind of changes to their schedule; they might be upset or not there as often as they normally would be.”

It can also be helpful to share this information with the parents of your child’s friends, depending on your child’s age and your relationship with them.

You should also let your child know that they don’t have to keep this heartbreaking news a secret.

Sad student talking to her teacher for support.

What kind of support should I provide for my child?

Letting your child know that you can coordinate a time for them to check in with a counselor or psychologist is an important step to supporting your kid.

There are specialists who focus on dealing with children who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Is it ever appropriate to not tell your children?

Experts agree that you should let your child know unless you have a child with the type of disability that would prohibit them from properly processing this information.

“Children are very perceptive and will be able to tell that something is wrong,” Parris noted.

“By providing open and honest communication with your children, you can prevent them from jumping to wrong conclusions or making inaccurate assumptions. Allowing a space for open dialogue and questions can equip children with the information they need to effectively cope.”

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