embodied cognition
nounUK /ɪmˈbɒdid kɒɡˈnɪʃən/
US /ɪmˈbɑːdid kɑːɡˈnɪʃən/
The idea that your body helps your brain think and learn.
Embodied cognition explains why we understand words like 'grasp' better when we move our hands.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A research approach that studies thinking as shaped by the body's senses and movements.
The lab uses embodied cognition to design better learning tools for children.
3. The view that abstract ideas are built from physical experiences.
In embodied cognition, the concept of warmth grows out of feeling warm.
4. A theory in robotics where a robot's body and environment guide its smart behavior.
Engineers applied embodied cognition so the robot could walk without a detailed map.