Are string theories extra dimensions required to be “higher” than the four we know of? [closed]

Does the mathematics of string theory require extra dimensions to be "higher" than our own? Is it possible that extra dimensions are lower that that the four we currently know? Could our four be placed somewhere in the middle of a proposed scheme of dimensions?

closed as unclear what you're asking by ACuriousMind♦, Brandon Enright, Danu, user10851, Kyle KanosAug 24 '14 at 23:28

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• I have no idea what you mean by dimensions being "higher" and "lower". – ACuriousMind Aug 24 '14 at 15:33
• Do you mean "large" extra dimensions, as opposed to "curled-up" extra dimensions? – HDE 226868 Aug 24 '14 at 15:34
• When I say "higher" "lower" I mean ordinarily, we think that dimensions in addition to the four we know would be the 5th,6th,7th,... Does the mathematics of string theory require that there is a 5th,6th,7th,...? Can there be dimensions prior to the 1st,2nd,3rd,and 4th? – math and mountains Aug 24 '14 at 15:38
• What you appear to be asking is simply a matter of naming. We call any extra spatial dimensions the "fourth", "fifth", "sixth", etc. by those names because they are additional dimensions. There is no significance to the names whatsoever. – HDE 226868 Aug 24 '14 at 15:39
• I propose a naming scheme like the quarks! Top dimension, bottom dimension... maybe even side dimension? – Danu Aug 24 '14 at 17:00

When we refer to a vector it's common to write is as $x^\alpha$, where $\alpha$ runs from zero to the number of spacetime dimensions minus one. $x^0$ is frequently used to refer to the timelike dimension, so $x^1$ to $x^n$ refer to the $n$ spatial dimensions. However there is no signficance as to which of the spatial dimensions is referred to by which index. The three dimensions we are familiar with from everyday experience don't have to be $x^1$ to $x^3$, though they often are.
• You could also add a few words about signature. For example, if 4 spacetime dimensions are numbered 0-3 as usual, then the signature $(+,-,-,-)$ is used, and if they are numbered 1-4, then signature becomes $(-,-,-,+)$, the different sign marking the timelike axis. – firtree Aug 24 '14 at 15:57