The body at the base of cognition. An experimental study about music, dance, and emotion

Abstract

Communication and human interaction have traditionally focused on verbal language, but recent research highlights the importance of body movement. This study aimed to examine the ability to express and interpret emotions through full-body movement within embodiment theories. Eighty-four participants took part in two studies. In Study 1, participants listened to music with positive or negative valence and moved freely while their emotional state was assessed via questionnaires. Movements were recorded and edited to exclude music and facial cues. In Study 2, other participants watched these silent videos and completed the same questionnaires, evaluating their own emotional responses to the observed movements. Findings from both studies demonstrate that full-body movement can successfully convey and induce emotional content, supporting the role of embodied processes in emotional communication. These results emphasise the value of considering bodily expression in understanding human emotional interactions beyond language.