# overthink (cognitive)

To think about a thing so much that it changes in time and does not stop.

- Computed level: L17 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: cognitive

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [think](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-think.cognitive), [persist](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-persist.continue), [time](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-time.dimension)

**Through:** When thinking continues through time beyond what is usual, the process persists and alters the pattern of thought.

**Novel properties:**
- excessive mental activity
- altered perception of time

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-overthink.cognitive*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-overthink.cognitive.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*