Revisiting tool use and distance perception: twenty years later.

Abstract

Embodied cognition is a paradigm in psychology which argues that perception is not based exclusively on visual cues but is fundamentally shaped by the dynamic interaction between action capabilities and the environment. This perspective provides a novel understanding of human inter action with the world, emphasizing the central role of sensorimotor experience. Within this theoretical framework, the influence of tool use on visual perception is investigated as a key example of how bodily interaction can reshape spatial experience. For example, people perceive distance as shorter when they use a tool instead of their hand Witt et al. (Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance,31(5), 880-888, 2005). Using tools extends and transforms an individual's motor capacities, thereby reshaping the relationship to the surrounding space. Although this approach has faced criticisms and challenges that have sometimes weakened its credibility, accumulating evidence supports the view that tool use plays a significant role in shaping distance perception. This research aims to explore how spatial perception emerges from the complex interplay between the body, tools, and the environment, with a focus on identifying the underlying processes and mechanisms involved.