We often picture the brain as a powerful computer built for thinking, reasoning and solving problems. But the brain did not evolve for abstract thought; it evolved for action. Long before language, logic or executive function, our ancestors had to reach, grasp and navigate through a complex world. The same brain systems that control our hands and movements also shape how we perceive, learn and solve problems.
Dr. Claudia Gonzalez will explore the relationship between the mind and movement when she presents, From Action to Cognition: How the Body Shapes the Mind, as part of the University of Lethbridge’s PUBlic Professor Series on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, 7 to 9 p.m., at the Owl Acoustic Lounge.
“Every day, we’re remembering things, making decisions and navigating busy spaces. But what if the way you pick up a coffee cup, search for your keys, or build something with your hands could tell us how we think and solve problems?” asks Gonzalez.
Her research explains how everyday movements (reaching, grasping, building and exploring objects) reveal how cognitive skills like language, spatial thinking and executive function work and interact. She says that patterns of hand use, and their variations across age and sex, shed light on how each hemisphere of the brain supports different cognitive abilities.
“From children learning through play, to adults solving complex problems, to older adults maintaining independence, manual interactions with the environment give us a powerful window into how cognitive skills develop and adapt, and how we can help maintain them across the lifespan.”
Born and raised in Mexico City, Gonzalez was fascinated about why people behave the way they do, and it led her to studying psychology at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. As her questions deepened, she realized that to truly understand behaviour, she needed to understand the brain. That search brought her to Canada, where she completed her master’s and PhD in neuroscience at the University of Lethbridge and later trained in cognitive neuroscience at Western University.
Today, Gonzalez is a professor and Board of Governors Research Chair and former Canada Research Chair at ULethbridge. In her Brain in Action Laboratory, she combines psychology, neuroscience and kinesiology to study how the brain links perception and action, and how basic behaviours like reaching and grasping shape cognitive functions such as language, spatial ability and executive function.
The 2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series is made possible thanks to: The 2025 PUBlic Professor Series has been generously supported by the University of Lethbridge Senate, Knud Petersen, Dr. Dennis Connolly (LLD ’17), Dave and Kathy Greenwood, Dr. Michelle Helstein, Dr. Digvir and Manju Jayas, Deborah Lucas, and Dr. Dena McMartin.
The annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge. For a look at the full series, visit ulethbridge.ca/research/public-professor.
2025-26 PUBlic Professor Series (remaining schedule)
From Action to Cognition: How the Body Shapes the Mind — Dr. Claudia Gonzalez, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026 — The Owl Acoustic Lounge
Indigenous Childhood Stories Transform Worlds – Want Some? — Dr. Don McIntyre, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge
Legalized Gambling in Canada: Winners and Losers — Dr. Robert Williams — Thursday, March 26, 2026 — Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge