Chapter published in:
Why Gesture?: How the hands function in speaking, thinking and communicating
Edited by R. Breckinridge Church, Martha W. Alibali and Spencer D. Kelly
[Gesture Studies 7] 2017
► pp. 155–174

Chapter 7
Gestures highlight perceptual-motor representations in thinking

Gestures are adept at expressing perceptual and motor information. In this chapter, we propose that, as representational actions, gestures both stem from and influence perceptual representations, in much the same way that action and perception more generally exist in an inextricable relationship. We review evidence that gestures emerge from perceptual-motor representations that are activated during thinking and speaking (Hostetter & Alibali, 2008). We then consider how gesture’s connection to perceptual-motor representations may play a functional role in strengthening those representations in the minds of speakers.
Article outline
  • Gestures highlight perceptual-motor representations in thinking
  • Gestures arise from perceptual-motor representations
  • Gestures strengthen perceptual-motor representations
  • Why gesture?
  • References
Published online: 26 April 2017
https://doi.org/10.1075/gs.7.08hos
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Cited by 4 other publications

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Pouw, Wim & James A. Dixon
2019. Entrainment and Modulation of Gesture–Speech Synchrony Under Delayed Auditory Feedback. Cognitive Science 43:3 Crossref logo
Pouw, Wim, Stephanie I. Wassenburg, Autumn B. Hostetter, Bjorn B. de Koning & Fred Paas
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Wassenburg, Stephanie I., Björn B. de Koning & Menno van der Schoot
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