# The mind is bigger than the brain The mind is a mysterious concept, but most people see it as a part of our consciousness and locate it in the brain. However, it can be argued that the mind also extends to the body, and to the environment. Indeed, the brain picks up a myriad of signals every day — through a process which is called *interoception* — and analyses them subconsciously, searching for patterns. When it finds one, it tells it to the body through *embodied cognition*, eg in the shape of *gut feelings*. For instance, imagine a friend asks you to lend him some money, and you get a strong feeling that you should not; it could be because you subconsciously picked up elements of his body language that betray a dubious situation. To stimulate embodied cognition, you should move (see [[Exercise is critical to brain development]]): the brain is more receptive to patterns when the body is active. Likewise, when speaking, practice *gestural foreshadowing* by letting your hands move freely: it can speed up your thinking. The mind can even extend to the environment: sceneries of nature, feelings of awe, or a sense of ownership and privacy towards one's work office have been shown to improve creativity and analytical thinking. You can also turn thoughts into objects for offloading, detachment gain and interactivity. What is more, active learning — combining social interaction and learning — seems to be an effective teaching method. --- ## 📚 References - Paul, Annie Murphy. *The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain*. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2021.