This view that our actions may influence the way we think is not completely new. Already in early
developmental psychology, Piaget and Inhelder (1948/1956; see also Piaget, 1936/1952) emphasized
the importance of actions in cognitive development. They argued that cognitive abilities emerge out of
sensorimotor abilities and that movement is the source of the most elementary knowledge. According
to their theory, a representation is the inner and symbolic imitation of previously executed actions
(Piaget & Inhelder, 1966/1971). However, Piaget’s mostly abstract tasks often did not do justice to
his view that action plays an important role in cognitive development.