The World Within Reach: Effects of Hand Posture and Tool Use on Visual Cognition. (February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brockmole, James R.; Davoli, Christopher C.; Abrams, Richard A.; Witt, Jessica K.
• Is Part Of: Current directions in psychological science. Volume 22:Number 1(2013)
• Page Start: 38
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2013-02
• Subjects: perception -- attention -- memory -- hand posture -- tool use -- embodied cognition; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150
• DOI: 10.1177/0963721412465065
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-7214

Abstract

Our mental processing of the visual world is not independent of our physical actions within it. Placing objects near one's hands and interacting with objects using tools can enhance visual perception, bias and prolong the allocation of attention, and distort memory in systematic ways. This suggests that the world within our reach is cognitively different from the world beyond reach. In this review, we examine the evidence supporting this conclusion, focusing on the cognitive and neural mechanisms that underlie these effects, the parameters that may control their emergence, and their potential practical applications.