Embodied cognition

A theoretical framework proposing that cognitive processes are deeply shaped by the body's interactions with its physical environment — that thinking is not purely abstract but is grounded in sensory experience, motor action, and bodily engagement with materials. In accessibility and education contexts, embodied cognition supports the use of tactile, hands-on learning activities for BLV students and others who benefit from physical manipulation of materials rather than purely verbal or visual instruction. Beadwork, tactile maps, and physical manipulatives exemplify embodied approaches to learning.