抽象概念是否通过感知经验来表征以及如何被感知经验表征是具身认知面临的一大问题。在抽象概念表征是否具有感知经验基础的问题上,具身认知理论认为抽象概念通过情境模拟或隐喻与感知经验发生联系。在抽象概念如何与感知经验表征发生联系的问题上,概念模拟理论强调情景或运动模拟在抽象概念表征中的直接作用;概念隐喻理论则侧重具体经验或具体经验与抽象概念之间的共同结构关系在抽象概念表征中的间接作用。未来研究应改变概念表征的稳定的心理实体观,从语言和抽象表征的关系、正常儿童和特殊群体的抽象概念表征差异入手,整合不同的具身认知观点。
Whether people are able to represent abstract concepts through experience of sensory and motor systems? This is a challenge for embodied cognition. From the perspective of the relations between sensorimotor information and representation of abstract concepts, Present paper reviewed some influential theories in embodied cognition and the corresponding important evidences. Reviewing the theories indicates that abstract concepts is grounded in perceptual information, however, how abstract concepts are grounded in perceptual information remains debated. Within Embodied Cognition (EC) approach, some authors emphasize the importance of action or situation for conceptual representation, this supports strong version of EC. Others highlight the role of concrete experience or common structure for cognition, this supports weaker version of EC. Furthermore, we should view conceptual representations as flexible entities, and integrate different views into more mature frame of embodied cognition. Additionally, future work should focus on the relationship between abstract concepts and language, and the difference in abstract concepts representation between normal and special children.