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"Stepping Backward Enhances Cognitive Control"

Via Tyler Cowen comes this interesting finding:The way in which we are moving influences how our brain is functioning ? and applying what is known about the relationship between movement and thought poses interesting challenges for designers Koch and his colleagues found that ?Stepping backward significantly enhanced cognitive performance compared to stepping forward or sideways. Considering the effect size, backward locomotion appears to be a very powerful trigger to mobilize cognitive resources. Thus, whenever you encounter a difficult situation, stepping backward may boost your capability to deal with it effectively.? Previous research has shown that how people are moving their arms when they see something influences their responses to those objects ? when people look at something as they flex their arm toward themselves (a sort of pulling closer motion), they like the viewed object more, and when they are performing a pushing away motion (by extending their arm) while looking at an object, they like the viewed object less...continue to full post

Full post as published by Crime & Federalism on May 09, 2009 (boomark / email).