Embodied cognition: your physical posture changes how you think

Research by Amy Cuddy and colleagues found that sitting in expansive, high-power postures for two minutes before a stressful task raised testosterone and lowered cortisol, producing measurable physiological changes. Broader replication work produced mixed results, but the core of embodied cognition is robust: holding a warm drink makes people judge strangers as warmer; crossing your arms increases analytical persistence; walking faster increases positive affect. The brain doesn't just direct the body — the body continually updates the brain about emotional state.

Source: Carney, D.R., Cuddy, A.J. & Yap, A.J., 'Power Posing', Psychological Science (2010); Schnall et al., Journal of Experimental Social Psychology (2008)