The Temporality of Situated Cognition.
Frontiers in psychology January 1, 2020 David H V Vogel, Mathis Jording, Christian Kupke et al. 18 citations
Cognition is not only shaped by space and body but also by time. The authors argue that situated cognition, typically defined by embodiment, enaction, extension, and embedding, must include a temporal dimension. On a subpersonal level, information processing requires a minimal temporal extension to form basic perceptions and actions (microlayer of time). On a personal level, lived experiences and narratives create broader temporal horizons (macrolayer of time). The macrolayer emerges from the microlayer, with neurobiological processes constraining the former and complex social affordances shaping the latter. Cognition is a continuous dynamic process transitioning between situated states, with the flow of time as its driving force. Examples from everyday life and psychopathology illustrate how understanding enduring situations benefits cognitive science.