Perspective - Journal of Psychology and Cognition (2025) Volume 10, Issue 2

Mind in Motion: Rethinking Perception and Memory through the Lens of Embodied Cognition

Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital,Italy

*Corresponding Author:

Daniel Huxley
Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit
Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital,Italy
E-mail: daniel.hux21@gmail.com

Received: 03-Mar-2025, Manuscript No. AAJPC-25-166665; Editor assigned: 04-Mar-2025, PreQC No. AAJPC-25-166665 (PQ); Reviewed: 18-Mar-2025, QC No. AAJPC-25-166665; Revised: 24-Mar-2025, Manuscript No. AAJPC-25-166665 (R); Published: 31-Mar-2025, DOI: 10.35841/aajpc-10.2.286

Citation: Huxley D. Mind in motion: Rethinking perception and memory through the lens of embodied cognition. J Psychol Cognition.2025;10(2):286

Introduction

Traditional cognitive science has long treated the mind as a sort of disembodied information processor, where perception and memory are largely internal functions isolated from the body’s physical experiences. However, recent advances in psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy have begun to challenge this view, giving rise to the theory of embodied cognition — a transformative approach that insists cognition is deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the environment. This fresh perspective reframes how we understand perception and memory, highlighting the dynamic interplay between mind, body, and world [1].

Embodied cognition argues that cognition is not confined to the brain but emerges from the continuous interaction between brain, body, and environment. The mind is “in motion,” shaped and supported by bodily sensations, motor activities, and the physical world [2].

Instead of passively receiving sensory data, perception is an active process that is closely linked to potential actions. For example, seeing a chair does not just register its shape and color; it automatically triggers information about how to sit on it, how to move around it, or even how to grasp it.Memories are not just static data points stored in the brain but are deeply connected to the sensorimotor experiences that created them. Recalling an event often involves reactivating patterns of bodily states, spatial contexts, and emotional responses that were part of the original experience [3].

The shape, abilities, and limitations of the body shape how the brain perceives and remembers. For instance, the way humans perceive space is influenced by their ability to walk, reach, or manipulate objects.Embodied cognition redefines perception as a skillful engagement with the environment. Rather than constructing mental images detached from physical action, perception is about exploring and anticipating interactions with the world [4].

Neuroscientific research supports this view by showing that brain regions involved in motor control also activate during perception. Mirror neurons, for example, fire both when an individual performs an action and when they observe the same action performed by others, suggesting a direct link between perceiving and doing [5].

This understanding has profound implications for fields such as robotics and artificial intelligence, where designing systems that perceive through embodied interaction rather than passive sensing could lead to more adaptive and intelligent behavior.Traditional memory theories often depict remembering as the retrieval of stored representations. Embodied cognition, however, suggests memory is more like a re-enactment or simulation of past experiences that re-engages the sensorimotor system [6].

Studies on autobiographical memory show that recalling past events often involves re-experiencing the sights, sounds, emotions, and even bodily sensations linked to those events. This reactivation makes memory vivid and context-rich rather than abstract and decontextualized.Furthermore, embodied memory theory aligns with the idea that gestures, posture, and movement can aid recall. For example, physically retracing one’s steps or mimicking past actions can facilitate remembering, demonstrating how body and memory work in tandem [7].

Learning strategies can be enhanced by incorporating physical activity, gestures, and interaction with the environment. Students may retain information better when they are physically engaged rather than passively listening.Treatments for cognitive impairments or trauma can benefit from embodied approaches. Movement therapies and environmental modifications can stimulate memory and perception pathways [8].

Designing technology that integrates body movements and real-world contexts (like virtual reality or gesture controls) can create more intuitive user experiences.Embodied cognition challenges traditional notions of self and consciousness by highlighting the inseparability of mind and body, prompting new debates about identity and agency.While embodied cognition offers a compelling framework, it is not without challenges. Measuring and modeling the complex interactions between brain, body, and environment is difficult. Some critics argue that the theory may underplay the role of abstract, symbolic reasoning or overemphasize bodily factors [9].

Future research aims to clarify the boundaries and integration between embodied processes and more traditional cognitive mechanisms. Advances in neuroimaging, computational modeling, and cross-disciplinary studies are likely to deepen our understanding of how cognition truly works “in motion [10].”

Conclusion

Rethinking perception and memory through the lens of embodied cognition offers a richer, more holistic view of the mind. By recognizing that cognition is fundamentally grounded in bodily experience and environmental interaction, this approach dissolves the outdated mind-body divide. It opens exciting pathways for research, technology, education, and therapy, emphasizing that the mind is not a static entity but a dynamic process continuously shaped by motion, sensation, and action.

The mind in motion reminds us that to understand how we perceive and remember, we must look beyond the brain alone and embrace the full living context in which cognition unfolds.

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