Most daily activities involve the manipulation of multiple objects, during which humans obtain information and regulate their movements over the course of these actions. For sighted individuals, the relationship between visual perception and bodily movements for manipulating objects is well-documented. In this study, we examined bodily movements and perceptions during the process of making instant coffee by individuals with visual impairments, using two tabletop designs. Experiment had a total of six participants. Participants with visual impairments tend to position objects in a way that reflects on their range of body movement, with those who are completely blind are particularly inclined to perform actions within the overlapping range of their arms movements. However, when tactile cues are incorporated into the environment, the range of object placement expands in some cases. In the analysis of a time series of body movements, “touching” and “movement changes” were observed in the switching between sub-goal units and trunk movements. These movement changes were inferred in the form of a fine-tuning of perception and movement without conscious awareness, as with microslips. Individuals with visual impairments orient themselves in the environment by trunk movements, locate objects by touching, and fine-tuning their perception and movement through movement changes. They perceive spatial configurations by coordinating their trunk, arms, and fingertips.

This study investigated self-referential utterances made by lecturers during Question-Answer (Q&A) sessions in online training, such as “Didn’t that answer your question?” It aimed to understand why speakers make these self-references either before or after providing an answer. The analysis revealed that self-references typically occurred after an answer had been given and no immediate response from the questioner followed. In these instances, self-references functioned as a way to mark the completion of the answer and prompt a response from the questioner. These utterances often involved downgrading the status of the answer or checking its adequacy. The analysis also showed that these self-deprecating remarks were oriented toward preference organization (Pomerantz, 1985a). By offering a self-deprecating statement, the speaker invited a preferred response of disconfirmation (e.g., “No, your answer was fine”) from the questioner. This interactional mechanism helped manage turn-taking and encouraged the questioner to provide a relevant follow-up, thereby advancing the Q&A session. Additionally, in the online environment—where visual cues may be absent—these self-references served as an important tool for lecturers to gauge whether their answers were understood and accepted. Pre-answer self-references, on the other hand, were used to manage potential difficulties in the upcoming explanation. In sum, self-reference emerged as a strategic practice for managing both the completion and reception of answers during online Q&A sessions.

This article investigates the communicative functions of depicting gestures accompanying the explanation of how to eat by the Nakai/Okami in Kyo-ryori restaurants. We analyzed video-recorded service-encounter interaction data between Nakai/Okami and customers in Kyo-ryori restaurants from the ethnomethodological perspective. Our findings showed that Nakai/Okami selectively used depicting gestures in the particular interactional environment of serving Kyo-ryori. They use depicting gestures to highlight the importance of their instructions, especially when the value of dishes is reduced if customers do not follow their instructions. The analysis also shows that Nakai/Okami tend to coordinate their body configurations to not disrupt customers’ ongoing activities when performing depicting gestures. A detailed analysis of service-encounter interactions illustrates how Nakai/Okami design their depicting gestures and accompanying embodied behaviors to suit in-situ, contingent interactional environments.

Research on infant motor development spans various domains such as reaching, sitting, crawling, and walking; however, the development of sitting on chairs has not been thoroughly examined. In this study, we observed infants’ chair-sitting behavior over the course of one year in a daycare setting to examine flexibility and changes in control strategies. The sitting behavior was analyzed based on the following aspects: adjustment of the distance between the chair and table, accomplishment of sitting (whether the buttocks touched the seat), leg movements, assistance from caregivers, and onset of walking. Focusing on three infants, we conducted a longitudinal analysis of intra-individual changes rather than relying on group averages. Changes in sitting behavior before and after walking onset did not show a consistent trend across all three infants; rather, some aspects changed in child-specific ways. A common sitting form was observed among the three children: standing beside the chair, placing one foot on the seat, and then sliding the foot over the seat to complete the sitting. This process involved exploratory behaviors and showed variations in how the infants attempted to sit. Each child developed a unique method for achieving seated positions on chairs. Furthermore, sitting behavior that initially appeared as part of a continuous sequence from pulling up and cruising became an independent skill after the onset of walking. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between the intrinsic dynamics, postural and locomotor development, and environmental exploration.

This study investigates the differences in politeness strategies between Japanese and North American during the use of evaluative expressions in social scenarios. Japanese and North American university students (𝑛 = 25 each; 48% female) were shown with 12 metaphorical expressions about dishes prepared by their conversation partners, with varying emotional intensities (strong negative, weak negative, weak positive, strong positive). Participants evaluated the appropriateness of these expressions in four scenarios, varied by social distance (acquaintance vs. close friend) and subject matter (negative vs. positive themes). Following this, participants evaluated their discourse goals for each scenario. Results showed that for negative themes, both cultures rated positive expressions as more appropriate when addressing acquaintances, while aptness ratings were consistent across all intensities with close friends. For positive themes, strong positive expressions were rated as the most apt regardless of social distance. The analysis of discourse goals revealed cultural differences in the emphasis on “consideration for the listener” and “creative expression.” This study highlights the role of politeness strategies in cross-cultural communication and provides new insights into the use of evaluative expressions in maintaining interpersonal relationships.

With the aim of exploring the factors that affect trust in artificial intelligence (AI), an online questionnaire survey was conducted. In the survey, the Big Five personality traits, belief in a zero-sum game, interpersonal trust, and trust in AI were measured using psychological scales. The results indicated that extraversion and agreeableness were negatively and positively associated, respectively, with trust in the usefulness of AI. Belief in a zero-sum game was positively associated with distrust of AI’s faithfulness. Trust in the integrity of others was positively related to trust in the usefulness of AI, while distrust of people’s alertness was positively related to distrust of AI’s faithfulness. On the other hand, distrust of people’s self-centeredness was positively related to both trust in the usefulness of AI and distrust of AI’s faithfulness.

This study examines echo-chambers from a cognitive science perspective. Although echo-chambers are typically regarded as undesirable phenomena in cyber space, it is posited here that they can also foster community development. Accordingly, mechanisms are proposed that enable individuals to engage in the steering of echo-chambers. In formulating methods for such steering, particular attention is paid to the contemporary tendency to treat cyber space and physical space as distinct realms. Recognizing that echo-chambers can become especially pronounced in cyber space, this study aims to facilitate steering by grounding cyber space in physical space.

This article reviews key topics and research examples at the intersection of cognitive science and rehabilitation, with a particular focus on Radical Embodied Cognitive Science. In recent movement science, the body is understood as a complex system, and analytical methods derived from nonlinear dynamics have been widely applied. In rehabilitation practice, the patients’ bodies are highly complex and not fully understood scientifically. Nevertheless, therapists are able to implement effective interventions through clinical knowledge, and through verbal and nonverbal communication with patients. To better understand such complex phenomena and implicit therapeutic skills, insights from cognitive science are essential. From this perspective, the author introduces several research examples — including the application of biofeedback systems, obstacle avoidance, adaptive strategies, and haptic client–therapist interaction. The article further discusses other relevant studies, the broader social context surrounding rehabilitation, and recent technological innovations. It concludes by arguing for the increasing necessity of integrating cognitive science and rehabilitation to better understand real-world, ecologically valid phenomena and to support more effective rehabilitation practices.

Virtual reality (VR) offers a promising tool for precisely and safely assessing and training perceptual and cognitive processes that support safe locomotion in older adults. It allows researchers and clinicians to simulate challenging scenarios that are difficult to reproduce in real-world settings. Despite its potential, the clinical application of VR remains limited, and the knowledge gained from VR research has yet to be fully exploited in practical situations. This article reviews recent studies that use the unique strengths of VR, with the aim of showcasing its practical value in rehabilitation. Focusing on perceptual and cognitive functions, we present the following examples: a VR-based multi-target stepping task designed to reduce downward gaze while walking; an aperture-passing task that minimizes excessive trunk rotation and encourages context-appropriate movement strategies; and a road-crossing simulation that examines decision-making under dynamic and risky conditions. Taken together, these studies highlight the value of VR as a translational platform that connects cognitive science with clinical rehabilitation, particularly in promoting safe locomotion and preventing collisions among older adults.

This study examines the relationship between cognitive science and rehabilitation research by analyzing the clinical communication practice of speech-language-hearing therapy through the lens of interaction analysis. Grounded in a qualitative approach, it aims to deepen the understanding of clinical processes. In particular, it focuses on the active participation of patients in training and their co-operative with therapists to construct treatment. By highlighting this process, the study seeks to elucidate intricate dynamics that quantitative research often fails to capture. Specifically, it investigates how therapists and patients co-construct not merely the transmission of meaning, but rather the reconstruction of meaning and mutual understanding. Furthermore, through the analysis of case studies, the research presents concrete methodological frameworks and contributes to the advancement of qualitative research in the field of rehabilitation.