Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
07:05
Visualization Method for Proprioceptive Drift on a 2D Plane Using Support Vector Machine
Published on: October 27, 2016
Constraining theories of embodied cognition
Arthur B Markman1, C Miguel Brendl
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA. markman@psy.utexas.edu
Psychological Science
|January 22, 2005
Summary
Embodied cognition theories suggest judgments use perception and movement. Our study found movement compatibility effects depend on self-representation in space, not physical location, impacting embodied cognition understanding.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Embodied Cognition Research
- Human Movement Studies
Background:
- Theories of embodied cognition propose that complex judgments rely on perceptual and motor representations.
- Movement-compatibility effects demonstrate faster responses to stimuli based on congruent physical actions (e.g., pulling for positive words).
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-examine the movement-compatibility effect within embodied cognition.
- To investigate whether the effect is driven by physical location or self-representation in space.
Main Methods:
- An experiment was designed to test the movement-compatibility effect.
- Participants responded to positive and negative words by either pushing or pulling a lever.
- The study analyzed response times in relation to word valence and movement direction.
Main Results:
- The movement-compatibility effect was observed, with response times varying based on word valence and movement type.
- Crucially, the compatibility effect was found to be dependent on participants' spatial self-representation, not their absolute physical location.
Conclusions:
- Embodied phenomena are influenced by the interplay between perceptual-motor representations and spatial self-representation.
- Understanding embodied cognition requires considering how individuals represent themselves within space.
- Spatial self-representation plays a critical role in mediating the relationship between action and evaluation.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Cognitivism
Cognitive psychology emerged as a significant field in the mid-20th century. It focused on understanding humans' internal mental processes. This approach emphasizes how people perceive, remember, think, and solve problems—elements critical to human cognition.
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
01:20Cognitive Theories: Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed the two-factor theory of emotion, which emphasizes the interplay between physiological arousal and cognitive labeling in forming emotional experiences. This theory suggests that emotions are not simply a result of physiological responses but rather a combination of these responses and the individual's cognitive interpretation of them.
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences physiological...
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences physiological...
01:17Cognitive Theories: Lazarus Mediational Theory of Emotion
Richard Lazarus' cognitive mediational theory highlights the pivotal role of cognitive appraisal in shaping emotional responses. According to this theory, the evaluation of a stimulus — based on personal values, goals, beliefs, and expectations — mediates the emotional response. This appraisal process is immediate and often occurs unconsciously, influencing the intensity and nature of the resulting emotion.
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that emotions are not solely...
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that emotions are not solely...
01:30Social Cognitive Perspective on Personality
Social cognitive perspectives on personality emphasize the importance of conscious awareness, beliefs, expectations, and goals in shaping behavior. These perspectives incorporate behaviorist principles, such as learning through reinforcement and conditioning, but extend beyond them by highlighting human reasoning and planning. Unlike traditional behaviorist views, social cognitive theory focuses on how individuals reflect on their past experiences and plan for future outcomes by considering...
01:21The Nativist Approach
The nativist approach to infant cognitive development proposes that infants are born with inherent knowledge structures that allow them to interpret the world almost immediately. This perspective contrasts with earlier developmental theories, such as those proposed by Jean Piaget, which emphasized a more gradual acquisition of cognitive abilities through interaction with the environment. One key concept in this approach is object permanence — the understanding that objects continue to exist...
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be interpreted as...