Mathematics requires precise inferences about abstract objects inaccessible to perception. How is this possible? One proposal that mathematical reasoning, while concerned with entirely objects, nevertheless relies on neural resources specialized for interacting the world-in other words, mathematics may be grounded in spatial or sensorimotor systems. Mental arithmetic, instance, could involve shifts attention along a mental "number-line", product of cultural artefacts and practices...

Abstract The canonical history of mathematics suggests that the late 19th‐century “arithmetization” calculus marked a shift away from spatial‐dynamic intuitions, grounding concepts in static, rigorous definitions. Instead, we argue mathematicians, both historically and currently, rely on dynamic conceptualizations mathematical like continuity, limits, functions. In this article, present two studies role conceptual systems expert proof. first is an analysis co‐speech gesture produced by...

Metaphorical expressions are pervasive in natural language and pose a substantial challenge for computational semantics.The inherent compositionality of metaphor makes it an important test case compositional distributional semantic models (CDSMs).This paper is the first to investigate whether metaphorical composition warrants distinct treatment CDSM framework.We propose method learn metaphors as linear transformations vector space find that, across variety domains, explicitly modeling...

Formal mathematical reasoning provides an illuminating test case for understanding how humans can think about things that they did not evolve to comprehend. People engage in algebraic by (1) creating new assemblies of perception and action routines evolved originally other purposes (reuse), (2) adapting those better fit the formal requirements mathematics (adaptation), (3) designing cultural tools mesh well with our perception-action create cognitive systems capable (invention). We describe...

Americans dramatically overestimate the size of African American, Latino, Muslim, Asian, Jewish, immigrant, and LGBTQ populations, leading to concerns about downstream racial attitudes policy preferences. Such errors are common whenever public is asked estimate proportions relevant political issues, from refugee crises polarization climate change COVID-19. Researchers across social sciences interpret these as evidence widespread misinformation that topic-specific potentially harmful. Here,...

Formal mathematics is a paragon of abstractness. It thus seems natural to assume that the mathematical expert should rely more on symbolic or conceptual processes, and less perception action. We argue instead proficiency relies perceptual systems have been retrained implement skills. Specifically, we investigated whether visual system-in particular, object-based attention-is so parsing algebraic expressions evaluating validity are accomplished by processing. Object-based attention occurs...

Number lines, calendars, and measuring sticks all represent order along some dimension (e.g., magnitude) as position on a line. In high-literacy, industrialized societies, this principle of spatial organization— linear order—is fixture visual culture everyday cognition. But what are the principle’s origins, how did it become such fixture? Three studies investigated intuitions about in Yupno, members Papua New Guinea that lacks conventional representations involving ordered U.S....

What is the connection between cultural evolution of a language and rapid processing response to that in brains individual learners? In an iterated communication study was conducted previously, participants were asked communicate temporal concepts such as "tomorrow," "day after," "year," "past" using vertical movements recorded on touch screen. Over time, developed simple artificial 'languages' used space metaphorically nuanced ways about time. Some conventions appeared rapidly universally...

According to accounts of neural reuse and embodied cognition, higher-level cognitive abilities recycle evolutionarily ancient mechanisms for perception action. Here, building on these accounts, we investigate whether creativity builds our capacity forage in space (“creativity as strategic foraging”). We report systematic connections between specific forms creative thinking—divergent convergent—and corresponding strategies searching space. U.S. American adults completed two tasks designed...

Languages around the world use a recurring strategy to discuss abstract concepts: describe them metaphorically, borrowing language from more concrete domains. We "plan ahead" future, "count up" higher numbers, and "warm" new friends. Past work has found that these ways of talking have implications for how we think, so shared systems linguistic metaphors can produce conceptualizations. On other hand, systematic might not just be cause but also effect shared, non-linguistic thinking. Here,...

Abstract Speakers of many languages prefer allocentric frames reference (FoRs) when talking about small‐scale space, using words like “east” or “downhill.” Ethnographic work has suggested that this preference is also reflected in how such speakers gesture. Here, we investigate possibility with a field experiment Juchitán, Mexico. In preferentially language (Isthmus Zapotec) coexists egocentric one (Spanish). Using novel task, elicited spontaneous co‐speech gestures motion events (e.g.,...

Speakers of many languages prefer allocentric frames reference (FoR) when talking about small-scale space, using words like ‘east’ or ‘downhill.’ Ethnographic work has suggested that this preference is also reflected in how such speakers gesture. Here, we investigate possibility with a field experiment Juchitán, Mexico. In preferentially language (Isthmus Zapotec) co-exists egocentric one (Spanish). Using novel task, elicited spontaneous co-speech gestures motion events (e.g., toppling...

Uncontrolled wildfires present ever-increasing risks. To respond effectively, we must communicate clearly and compellingly. This is where the scientific study of metaphor can help. Metaphor use one domain to describe or think about another, a process that often crucial for understanding phenomena are unusually large, abstract, complex – such as wildfires. Here, two metaphorical framings widespread in wildfire communication: an intentional, hungry beast; enemy defeat war. We then explore how...