The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish #146 Barbara Tversky: Action Shapes Thought
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Sep 6, 2022 
Barbara Tversky, an acclaimed psychologist and Stanford University professor, dives into the fascinating interplay between action and thought. She unpacks the Nine Laws of Cognition and explains how language can shape our perception. Tversky shares insights on effective communication, especially via Zoom, and explores the role of gestures in enhancing memory and understanding. Additionally, she reflects on the creative processes of Leonardo da Vinci and emphasizes the importance of perspective-taking in cognition and problem-solving.
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Spatial Thinking's Primacy
- The visual-spatial world predates language evolutionarily and occupies more cortex.
- Spatial thinking, like approaching or avoiding something, has inherent emotional value.
Adapting to Distorted Vision
- Barbara Tversky discusses studies where distorting lenses altered visual perception.
- Adaptation occurred through physical interaction, recalibrating spatial representation in the brain.
Language's Impact on Spatial Thinking
- Language influences our spatial understanding, adding layers of abstraction.
- Humans use maps, gestures, and language to understand space and spatial relationships, unlike other primates.
