Embodied problem solving: the role of sensorimotor information in problem solving

Karsten Werner

Publication: Book/ReportDissertations

Abstract

The aim of this work is to apply the embodied cognition approach to problem solving. Theories of embodied cognition assuming sensorimotor information gained during movements to affect cognitive processes. There is empirical evidence for this assumption across different cognitive tasks such as early processes (e.g. perception and attention) to late complex processes (e.g. reasoning and speech comprehension). Based on the type of movement these processes can be depressed or facilitated. The underlying mechanism of this interplay is still not clear. This dissertation aims to investigate the need for specific sensorimotor activation to affect the result of a complex cognitive task. Thereby, problem solving offers a perfect research environment with the successive order of early and late cognitive processes within one task. The results revealed a need for specific sensorimotor activation to affect the solution of a problem task. Moreover, potential effects on the early search processes of problem solving can be assumed. These effects are vanished in the problem task by reading direction habits as a stronger attention bias. The results support the assumptions of embodied cognition and provide further understanding about the interplay of motor and cognitive functions.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationKöln
PublisherDeutsche Sporthochschule Köln
Number of pages88
Publication statusPublished - 2015

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