Psychologist Barbara Tversky challenges the traditional view that thinking occurs solely in the brain, emphasizing the role of the body in cognition. In her recent article for IAI News, she highlights the concept of embodied cognition, where bodily actions like gesturing and walking actively contribute to thought processes. Tversky argues that the brain and body function as co-pilots rather than a control tower and vehicle, with cognition grounded in muscle memory, sensory experience, and posture. This perspective is gaining traction in mental health, with therapies such as somatic therapy and mindfulness recognizing the importance of body awareness. Interoception, or the awareness of internal bodily signals, is linked to improved emotional regulation. Tversky’s key message is that cognition is distributed across the body, not confined to the head, reshaping how we understand thinking and bodily involvement in mental processes. (Updated 19 Aug 2025, 07:00 IST; source: link)