We tend to see gesticulation as a behavioral quirk, but research shows these hand movements actually assist our mental processes. A study published last year found that people were better able to explain math problems and simultaneously remember a string of letters if they were allowed to gesture meaningfully as they spoke [because] gesturing probably makes the math part of the task less mentally taxing by externalizing and visualizing relevant information, thereby freeing up cognitive resources for the memory challenge. As a bonus, gesturing while you speak won’t only aid your thought processes, it likely will also help you make a good impression. Research has shown that presenters are judged as more effective and competent when they make hand gestures compared with when they keep their hands still.

Explore – We tend to see gesticulation as a behavioral... Tuesday, October 22, 2013 @ 6:51pm