Document Detail


Spontaneous gestures influence strategy choices in problem solving.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21813800     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Do gestures merely reflect problem-solving processes, or do they play a functional role in problem solving? We hypothesized that gestures highlight and structure perceptual-motor information, and thereby make such information more likely to be used in problem solving. Participants in two experiments solved problems requiring the prediction of gear movement, either with gesture allowed or with gesture prohibited. Such problems can be correctly solved using either a perceptual-motor strategy (simulation of gear movements) or an abstract strategy (the parity strategy). Participants in the gesture-allowed condition were more likely to use perceptual-motor strategies than were participants in the gesture-prohibited condition. Gesture promoted use of perceptual-motor strategies both for participants who talked aloud while solving the problems (Experiment 1) and for participants who solved the problems silently (Experiment 2). Thus, spontaneous gestures influence strategy choices in problem solving.
Authors:
Martha W Alibali; Robert C Spencer; Lucy Knox; Sotaro Kita
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2011-08-03
Journal Detail:
Title:  Psychological science     Volume:  22     ISSN:  1467-9280     ISO Abbreviation:  Psychol Sci     Publication Date:  2011 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-09-12     Completed Date:  2012-01-26     Revised Date:  2012-04-24    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9007542     Medline TA:  Psychol Sci     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1138-44     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1202 W. Johnson St., Madison, WI 53706, USA. mwalibali@wisc.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Gestures*
Humans
Problem Solving*
Psychomotor Performance
Time Factors

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Rewriting the self-fulfilling prophecy of social rejection: self-affirmation improves relational sec...
Next Document:  Knowledge, Misconceptions, and Future Intentions Towards Breastfeeding Among Female University Stude...