Individual differences in frequency and saliency of speech-accompanying gestures: the role of cognitive abilities and empathy.

ABSTRACT: The present study concerns individual differences in gesture production. We used correlational and multiple regression analyses to examine the relationship between individuals' cognitive abilities and empathy levels and their gesture frequency and saliency. We chose predictor variables according to experimental evidence of the functions of gesture in speech production and communication. We examined 3 types of gestures: representational gestures, conduit gestures, and palm-revealing gestures. Higher frequency of representational gestures was related to poorer visual and spatial working memory, spatial transformation ability, and conceptualization ability; higher frequency of conduit gestures was related to poorer visual working memory, conceptualization ability, and higher levels of empathy

SUBMITTER: Chu M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3970852 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature