We propose that much of what is experienced as psychological “drama” arises from an aliasing-like artifact of coarse temporal sampling of experience. In this framework, perception is treated as a reconstruction process operating at finite temporal resolution under precision-weighted inference, such that smooth underlying changes may appear discontinuous when sampled coarsely. This paper formalizes a phenomenological model in which “presence” is operationalized as increased temporal resolution of awareness along an event timeline. When awareness samples experience coarsely, smooth underlying changes can be misperceived as abrupt discontinuities, producing exaggerated affective responses that resemble a “jump-scare” effect. We integrate this resolution-based account with hierarchical predictive processing, emphasizing precision weighting as the mechanism that determines whether perception is dominated by top-down priors or bottom-up prediction errors. We then extend the model to psychedelic states using the REBUS framework, which proposes that serotonergic psychedelics relax the precision of high-level priors, increasing the influence of prediction errors and facilitating perceptual and cognitive reorganization. A simple mathematical formalization is provided, linking perceived dramatic intensity to sampling interval and precision gain. The account generates testable predictions concerning mindfulness practice, equanimity, narrative compression, and psychedelic distortions of time and self-experience. Finally, we briefly “strip away axes” to show the minimal phenomenological core that remains when timeline and intensity metaphors are removed. Keywords: predictive processing; precision weighting; mindfulness; presence; psychedelics; REBUS; time perception; equanimity; consciousness; cognitive neuroscience
Adam Asmaeil (Wed,) studied this question.