Abstract

Our bodies are an ever-present part of the context in which we use our minds. Thinking depends on context. Therefore, our bodies could exert myriad influences on how and what we think. How can we identify ways in which our bodily interactions with the environment are shaping our brains and minds? One strategy is to investigate whether people with different kinds of bodies think differently, in predictable ways. This chapter reviews research exploring ways in which the particulars of people’s bodies shape their words, thoughts, feelings, and choices, and ways in which our habits of body-world interaction determine how thoughts and feelings are implemented in our brains.