Is it true that our brain alone is responsible fo human cognition? What about our body? Is it possible for thought and behavior to originate from somewhere other than our brain? Psychologists who study Embodied Cognition(EC) ask similar questions. The E(theory suggests our body is also responsible for thinking or problem-solving. More precisely, the mind shapes the body and the body shapes the mind in equal measure.

If you think about it for a moment, it makes total sense. When you smell something good or hear amusing sounds, certain emotions are awakened. Think about how newborns use their senses to understand the world around them. They don't have emotions so much as needs—they don't feel sad, they're just hungry and need food. Even unborn babies can feel their mothers' heartbeats and this has a calming effect. In the real world, they cry when they're cold and then get hugged. That way, they start to associate being warm with being loved.

Understandably, theorists have been arguing for years and still dis-agree on whether the brain is the nerve centre that operates the rest of the body. Older Western philosophers and mainstream language researchers believe this is fact, while EC theorises that the brain and body are working together as an organic supercomputer, processing everything and forming your reactions.

Further studies have backed up the mind-body interaction. In one experiment, test subjects were asked to judge people after being handed a hot or a cold drink.

They all made warm evaluations when their fingertips perceived warmth rather than coolness. And it works the other way too;in another study, subjects' fingertip temperatures were measured after being included in or "rejected" from a group task. Those who were included felt physically warmer.

For further proof, we can look at the metaphors that we use without even thinking. A kind and sympathetic person is frequently referred to as one with a soft heart and someone who is very strong and calm in difficult situations is often described as solid as a rock. And this kind of metaphorical use is common across languages.

Now that you have the knowledge of mind-body interaction, why not use it? If you're having a bad day,a warm cup of tea will give you a flash of pleasure. If you know you're physically cold, warm up before making any interpersonal decisions.

Questions:
question_stem: According to the author, the significance of the EC theory lies in
choices: tag: A
text: facilitating our understanding of the origin of psychology

tag: B
text: revealing the major role of the mind in human cognition

tag: C
text: offering a clearer picture of the shape of human brain

tag: D
text: bringing us closer to the truth in human cognition
answer_key: D

question_stem: Where does the new borns' understanding of their surroundings start from?
choices: tag: A
text: Their personal looks.

tag: B
text: Their mental needs.

tag: C
text: Their inner emotions.

tag: D
text: Their physical feelings.
answer_key: D

question_stem: The experiments mentioned in Paragraph 4 further prove
choices: tag: A
text: environment impacts how we judge others

tag: B
text: how body temperature is related to health

tag: C
text: the mind and the body influence each other

tag: D
text: how humans interact with their surroundings
answer_key: C

question_stem: What does the author intend to prove by citing the metaphors in Paragraph 5?
choices: tag: A
text: Human speech is alive with metaphors.

tag: B
text: Human senses have effects on thinking.

tag: C
text: Human language is shaped by visual images.

tag: D
text: Human emotions are often compared to natural materials.
answer_key: B

question_stem: What is the author's purpose in writing the last paragraph?
choices: tag: A
text: To share with the reader ways to release their emotions.

tag: B
text: To guide the reader onto the path to career success.

tag: C
text: To encourage the reader to put EC into practice.

tag: D
text: To deepen the reader's understanding of EC.
answer_key: C