Gesture following deafferentation

a phenomenologically informed experimental study

Jonathan Cole

Shaun Gallagher

David Mcneill

pp. 49-67

in: Phenomenology and the cognitive sciences 1 (1), 2002.

Abstract

Empirical studies of gesture in a subject who has lost proprioception and the sense of touch from the neck down show that specific aspects of gesture remain normal despite abnormal motor processes for instrumental movement. The experiments suggest that gesture, as a linguistic phenomenon, is not reducible to instrumental movement. They also support and extend claims made by Merleau-Ponty concerning the relationship between language and cognition. Gesture, as language, contributes to the accomplishment of thought.

Cited authors

Merleau-Ponty Maurice