Embodied perspective on emotion-cognition interactions

Piotr Winkielman

Paula M. Niedenthal

Lindsay M. Oberman

pp. 235-257

in: Jaime A. Pineda (ed), Mirror neuron systems, New York City, Humana Press, 2009

Abstract

Emotions permeate social and non-social cognition. However, our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains elusive. One reason is because traditional amodal or symbolic accounts of cognition view emotional information as equivalent to any other information. However, recent theories of embodied cognition suggest new ways to understand the processing of emotionally significant information. They suggest that both perceiving and thinking about such information involve perceptual, somatovisceral, and motoric reexperiences (embodiment) of the relevant emotion in the self. Consistent with this view, many studies show that processing of emotion recruits embodiments as reflected in psychological and psychological measures. Further, embodiment of emotion, even when induced by simple manipulations, such as facial expression, posture, or movement, can causally influence the processing of emotional information, including perception, learning, understanding, and use in language, judgment, and behavior. We review relevant studies and discuss potential neural mechanisms underlying embodiment and simulation. We especially highlight the importance of social context and flexible use of embodiment in emotional processing and discuss its importance for typical and atypical social functioning.