Phrasebook

Bodies react to speech

Speech is processed in our brain. Our brain is active when we listen or read. This can be measured using various methods. But not only our brain reacts to linguistic stimuli. Recent studies show that speech also activates our body. Our body works when it hears or reads certain words. Above all, words that describe physical reactions. The word smile is a good example of this. When we read this word, we move our ‘smile muscle’. Negative words also have a measurable effect. An example of this is the word pain . Our body exhibits a clear pain reaction when we read this word. It could be said then that we imitate that which we read or hear. The more vivid the speech is, the more we react to it. A precise description has a strong reaction as a result. The activity of the body was measured for a study. Test subjects were shown various words. There were positive and negative words. The facial expressions of the test subjects changed during the tests. The movements of the mouth and forehead varied. That proves that speech has a strong effect on us. Words are more than just a means of communication. Our brain translates speech into body language. How exactly that works hasn't been researched yet. It is possible that the results of the study will have consequences. Physicians are discussing how best to treat patients. Because many ill people must undergo a long round of therapy. And there is a lot of talking in the process…