Hearing Gesture: How Our Hands Help Us Think

Explore the fascinating world of gesture and its impact on cognition in this illuminating lecture by Susan Goldin-Meadow, a distinguished professor at the University of Chicago. Delve into the intricate relationship between language and thought as Goldin-Meadow examines how our hand movements provide insight into our cognitive processes. Learn about the various types of gestures, including those created by children before language acquisition and those we all use while speaking. Discover the concept of gesture-speech mismatches and their significance in understanding human thinking. Investigate how gestures can influence our minds, serve as learning devices, and engage our motor systems. Gain insights into cross-cultural gestures, applications in education, and even gesture use in chimpanzees. This comprehensive talk covers a wide range of topics, from mental abacus techniques to the potential of gesture in detecting deception, offering a deep dive into the power of non-verbal communication in human cognition and interaction.