Embodiment of Abstract Concepts The study of Casasanto (2008):Casasanto (2008): Theories of embodied cognition suggest that thinking of concepts and their meanings involves simulations of bodily experiences (Barsalou, 1999; Feldman, 2006; Goldstone & Barsalou, 1998; Lakoff & Johnson, 1999;Prinz, 2002). If this is the case, how do people form mental representations of abstract concepts which cannot be directly sensed o acted upon with the body? © POSbase 2010 Contributor

Embodiment of Abstract Concepts © POSbase 2010 Casasanto tested two hypothesis on the nature of the associations between valence (aversion or attraction) and horizontal space in right- and left-handed individuals: 1. The associations are universal since they are stablished due to instrinsic neurobilogical factors and they are reinforced by language and culture. 2. Or alternatively, the associations are body-specific since they are a consequence of particular bodily experiences and emotional states that may happen simultaneously.

Embodiment of Abstract Concepts In his study Casasanto presented participants with a cartoon figure with two empty boxes at each side or below and above. © POSbase 2010 Participants were asked to draw “good” and “bad” animals in each of the boxes they considered was the most appropiate. Stimulus for horizontal conditionStimulus for vertical condition

Embodiment of Abstract Concepts © POSbase 2010 Results for horizontal condition

Embodiment of Abstract Concepts © POSbase 2010 Results for vertical condition

Embodiment of Abstract Concepts © POSbase 2010 After multiple follow-up experiments supporting the results Casasanto concluded that: Hypothesis two is true for horizontal space. Associations between right and left and valence are body-specific. Right and left-handers form mental metaphors that correspond with the side of the space where they act more fluently: 'Good Is Right' and 'Good is Left' correspondingly. Hypothesis one is partialy true for vertical space. Regardless of handedness, Up and Down appear to be universal metaphors for Good and Bad correspondingly. However, the origin of this metaphors cannot be attributed from the current data.