Four Functions of Gesture in Promoting Thought Processes

This article discusses four functions of gesture that could promote thought processes: as a tool to ground knowledge through the visual system; enhance short-term and long-term memories; motor suppress irrelevant information. Gestures contribute grounding concepts metaphors describe abstract in terms visually perceivable concepts. In this way, at least some aspects concept be grounded system. memories two ways: by filtering out elements representation thus reducing load on memory; storing representing information form organized, appropriate, easily recallable units. can process system activating areas offering actions simulated mind individual. suppressive mechanism which extraneous stimuli contextually unnecessary are omitted. Through mechanism, both spatio-motoric non-spatio-motoric suppressed. Thus, more cognitive resources assigned relevant parts task hand.