Embodied cognition holds that mental activities emerge from interactions between brain, body, and environment rather than from brain-based computations alone. Bodily sensations and movements form the foundation of perception, action, and learning. Actions and environmental context influence cognitive performance and observing others' actions engages the observer's motor system, aiding knowledge acquisition. Skilled know-how exists as embodied knowledge in which the body functions as the knowing subject, guiding performance in situations like typing or cycling. Early sensorimotor practices such as finger counting and handwriting leave durable traces that support later numerical and literacy processing. Physical repetition and practice foster mastery.
Traditional views of human cognition often describe mental faculties as computations performed by the brain in isolation from bodily experiences. The mind and body separation implies that the focus of learning is purely an intellectual activity. The field of embodied cognition proposes that bodies play a central role in our thinking and learning (Macrine, 2022). Cognition is not just an isolated mental activity but is closely linked to physicality. This approach considers the mind as something that goes beyond the brain.
Bodily sensations and movements are not secondary to cognitive experiences. They form the basis of how we perceive and interact with our environment. From this perspective, the body plays a central role in shaping our experience of the world. This means that action matters for cognitive performance and learning. Observing others' actions can improve knowledge. When we observe actions performed by other individuals, our motor system resonates along with the observed person.
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