Mind in Motion: How Action Shapes Thought - Barbara Tversky, Professor at Stanford University

In this presentation, Barbara Tversky, Professor of Psychology at Stanford University, argues that spatial thinking forms the fundamental basis of human thought. Drawing on extensive evidence from neuroscience, language, gesture, and graphic communication, she shows that the mind evolved to perceive, act, and reason in space long before the emergence of language. Spatial systems in the brain—such as place and grid cells—structure not only our understanding of physical environments but also our representations of events, people, concepts, and abstract ideas. Tversky demonstrates how gestures, diagrams, maps, and other external representations extend the mind by making thought visible, manipulable, and shareable. These “cognitive tools” enhance comprehension, memory, collaboration, and creativity by transforming fleeting ideas into stable spatial structures. She further explores how ambiguity, perspective-switching, and constructive perception foster new interpretations, supporting innovation across domains from STEM learning to art, design, and problem-solving. Ultimately, the presentation reveals that spatial actions—moving, navigating, arranging—are the foundation on which human reasoning, communication, and creativity are built. 🔔Don’t forget to subscribe:    / @dassaultsystemes   🔔Dassault Systèmes official website: https://www.3ds.com/ 🔔Learn more about what Dassault Systèmes do: https://www.3ds.com/about/company/wha... 🤳 Follow us! 🤳 💡LinkedIn:   / dassaultsystemes   💡TikTok:   / dassaultsystemes   💡Instagram:   / dassaultsystemes   💡X:   / dassault3ds   💡Facebook:   / dassaultsystemes   #3DS #3DEXPERIENCE #DassaultSystèmes #AI #CognitivePsychology #Perception #HumanCognition #ScienceWeek