Embodied cognition and motor control

One of the tenets of the embodied cognition theory is that mental states are grounded in the physical body, which can manifest itself as reciprocity between mental states and bodily states. Motivated by this approach, I performed various experiments on how mental activity is reflected in changes in motor activity. For example, the contents of mental imagery, and the contents of linguistic items (words and sentences) have clear effects on postural sway. I also studied how bodily states affect perceptual judgments of geometric properties of the environment, such as size and distance.
Related Research Themes & Projects

Arousal & Balance
Emotion influences parameters of goal-directed whole-body movements in several ways. Approaching (moving toward) pleasant stimuli is easier compared to approaching unpleasant stimuli. However, when emotional pictures are viewed for a longer time, approaching unpleasant stimuli may in fact be facilitated.