Synchrony: Is There a General Theory? Or is each case distinct and separate? DawnGurl: The above video is an example of synchrony where several events "harmonize" after a time. Other examples are fireflies blinking on and off in unison,or crickets chirping together. I just read a book on this subject and am left with the impression that, while each individual case is explained, there seems to be no general theory regarding this phenomena. Does anyone know more on this subject? If so,please,enlighten us all.  Blackshoes: Interesting : You state that the individual reasons are given ? Why did this just happen ? DawnGurl: An additional insight maybe? Check it out............ http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/08/science/08find.html?_r=0  Corwin: But that link refers to the synchrony in relation to the behavior of biological organisms. I don't believe that metronomes possess or express "behavior". If I had to wager a guess, I'd say that in the case of the metronomes it must have something to do with sound waves (or possibly the magnetic fields of the counter-weights ) and their close proximity to each other, creating subtle influences regarding the path of least resistance with each pendulum swing. This could be proven by repeating the experiment several times with the metronomes placed further and further apart, and measuring the difference in the duration of time until synchrony is attained, and possibly even finding a threshold of distance where the effect is no longer present. Also, if this experiment was repeated with digital metronomes instead of mechanical ones, which would be unaffected by sound or magnetic influence, would the effect still be present? I'm thinking it wouldn't. ----------------- The other possibility is that those are German made metronomes, and when grouped together they feel the need to march in unison in preparations for their inevitable invasion of Poland.  DawnGurl: hahahaha Corvy you are, no doubt, correct about German metronomes. The whole range of synchrony doesn't distinguish between organic and inorganic processes, unless we venture into Information Systems, Self-Organizing Processes, etc, which is not only way over my head but inharmonious to my intent heh. Blackshoes: Just a thought Being that we all surround by magnetism n' almost everthing is a form energy ,( atoms ) wouldn't the magnetic field also affect all things .I'm sure Nicholas Testa had something to say on this ? Also would the clickers sync if separated', One set in the north hemisphere another set in the southern Hemisphere ? (Edited by Blackshoes) Corwin: If you're referring to how the rotation of water draining in a sink is in opposite directions depending on whether you're in the Northern Hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, this is due to the "Coriolis Effect" caused by the Earth's rotation, not because of the Earth's magnetic field. The Earth's magnetic field is almost imperceptibly weak (from a localized standpoint here on the Earth's surface) and has no effect on anything except an extremely sensitive device such as a compass needle. A large lump of iron (such as in the case of a metronome's pendulum) has a very high localized magnetic field... within several feet of it a compass would prefer to point towards the pendulum instead of the Earth's North pole. Within inches of it it would have a significant magnetic influence, especially on a large concentration of ferrous material such as a similar metronome pendulum. As localized magnetic fields decrease exponentially with distance, I would think that separating the pendulums by a foot or so would reduce the synchrony effect to zero... never mind thousands of kilometers. --------------- Note: Another experiment which would prove the localized magnetic influence theory would be to replace all the metronome's pendulums with a non-ferrous material such as aluminum or copper, and see if they still synchronize. Blackshoes: No Corvin I wasn't I was referring to the different polarities Of a magnetic field''. Also Does this affect still happen when the discordant metronomes are separated by great distance ? or if the effect still happens if they where to be enclosed within lead walls ? .. I'm sure with a little research all my questions have answers .. If distance changes the effect ',It would therefore be a reasonable assumption that the group is the cause of the effect", much like when MS Sync when two or three woman live within the same home ? (Edited by Blackshoes) Corwin: That's basically what I was getting at as well. With some experimentation and observation I think causation could be established (at least in the case of the metronomes ). But I also imagine that different forms of synchrony could have many different causes. In the case of women's menstrual cycles syncing I imagine it's likely a hormonal thing. But it's also quite interesting that this female reproductive cycle is in sync with the phases of the Moon. That's actually where the word comes from - the Latin word "menses" meaning "monthly". Blackshoes: It's very interesting . Oh No ! another project .I'll be researching .Like I have any time now ! (Edited by Blackshoes) DawnGurl: I may have a partial answer to my own question. Although the following statement from Wikipedia concens self-organizing systems, I believe it also applies to synchrony which I feel is an offshoot of that principle. "Self-organization is a process where some form of global order or coordination arises out of the local interactions between the components of an initially disordered system. This process is spontaneous: it is not directed or controlled by any agent or subsystem inside or outside of the system; however, the laws followed by the process and its initial conditions may have been chosen or caused by an agent. It is often triggered by random fluctuations that are amplified by positive feedback. The resulting organization is wholly decentralized or distributed over all the components of the system. As such it is typically very robust and able to survive and self-repair substantial damage or perturbations. In chaos theory it is discussed in terms of islands of predictability in a sea of chaotic unpredictability." Random fluctuations, decentralized distribution and the chaotic unpredictability of processes seems to argue against there being an overall theory. I am assuming synchrony to be an externalization of these inwardly self organizing principles. In plain English-there are too many variables involved to make a coherent One-For-All theory. (Edited by DawnGurl)  lori100: ...you should be so lucky....Seth is a very good teacher of our multi-dimensional existence.... DawnGurl: He is also a fictional character. For your info Ive read Jane Roberts' books. Seth is her creation and she freely admits that. Roberts was well versed in esoteric religions, by her own admission. But I guess in your world that means little. After all its just solid evidence that's Roberts created a character for her own use. This is not to say she didn't speak "truths." Just that Seth is a fictional character who gave voice to her views. Nothing Seth said is new...nothing. Every inch of his statements can be found in (mostly) Eastern religions, or in quantum physics, which Roberts was also familiar with. Just because you personally find inspiration in his words does not qualify you to run rampant over well defined areas of research. If you want to jump down the rabbit hole into absurdity, be my guest. Just don't expect anyone to follow you. lori100: Why are the statements absurd if they are also found in quantum physics? ....are the scientists who study quantum physics absurd? -----and I have posted Seth statements where he said Buddha's myth comes closest to describing our actual reality, I have posted scientists quotes on their study of eastern religions and their validity in their scientific discoveries..... (Edited by lori100) lori100: btw....I'm curious....Dawn and Corvin ....what do you think Bohr meant by this...?..------"If quantum mechanics hasn’t profoundly shocked you, you haven’t understood it yet. Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.” - Niels Bohr-------Was he saying our reality is not real? | Science Chat Room 1 Person Chatting Similar Conversations |
