give us extra time

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keannu

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1. What does "extra time" mean here? If we estimate a thunder will happen after 5 minutes of hearing the sound, will we run away in 3 minutes, less than 5 minutes, so we can earn 2 more minutes?
2. Maybe slower people like seniors would escape in 7-10 minutes than younger people who would in 3-5 minutes. So does "those in weaker physical condition would rely more on escape to survive." mean "weaker people would strive to escape quicker, hurrying up"?

gu124)When our ears hear a threatening sound approaching us, our brains make us believe that the source of the sound will reach us sonner than it actually will. In this way, our brains give us extra time to decide to escape if a threat is coming our way. Scientists have known this phenomenon for some time.
Recently, however, researchers have discovered that the length of the escape time our brains provide depends on our physical fitness. The weaker we are, the longer our escape time. If we were to be threatened by approaching danger, those in weaker physical condition would rely more on escape to survive. Therefore, their brains encourage them to flee sooner.
 

SoothingDave

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I would need to see more context to understand what kinds of threats they are talking about. But, yes, the idea is that if you hear something "far off" that might be trouble for you when it approaches, how we estimate how "far off" it is depends on our physical condition.

I guess this explains the stereotypical elderly driver.
 

keannu

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Thanks a lot! Can you just tell me more about "extra time" here? And this is the whole context, I couldn't find any more.
 

SoothingDave

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Well, let's say there is a herd of elephants stampeding.

If I am an able-bodied young man, I might estimate them to be 5 minutes from my position.

If I am an older person who walks and runs slower, I might estimate them to be 2 minutes from my position. My mind has given me "extra time" to react, since my reaction will be slower.
 
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