| Title |
Body and Cognition in the Fourth Space |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5659/JAIK.2025.41.6.177 |
| Keywords |
4th Space; Embodied Cognition; Embodying; Extended Reality (XR); Virtual Reality (VR); Digital Umwelt; Ecological Perception; Human-Technology Interaction" |
| Abstract |
The advancement of digital technology is progressively dismantling the boundaries between physical and virtual spaces, giving rise to the
concept of the Fourth Space - a domain where physical reality, digital environments, and socio-cultural dimensions converge. This study
explores how embodied cognition unfolds within the Fourth Space, analyzing its implications from philosophical, technological, and ecological
perspectives. By synthesizing interdisciplinary theories, this research first establishes a conceptual definition of the Fourth Space, drawing from
phenomenology, ecological perception, and embodied cognition. It then investigates how perception and cognition operate dynamically within
this hybrid environment, emphasizing the role of XR (Extended Reality) technologies in shaping expanded cognitive experiences. The study
highlights how digital affordances enable new interactions between the body, tools, and environment, redefining the spatial and perceptual
boundaries of human experience. Furthermore, this research examines the Fourth Space as a potential reality, where perception and action
coalesce in real-time interaction with digital tools. Drawing upon the works of Merleau-Ponty, Gibson, and Uexkull, the study argues that the
Fourth Space functions as a digital Umwelt, where bodily engagement with XR-mediated environments extends cognitive processes beyond
traditional physical constraints. The integration of perceptual and effector tools within this space fosters a reconfiguration of embodied
interaction, influencing how users navigate and manipulate hybrid environments. The findings suggest that the Fourth Space is not merely a
technological construct but a dynamic cognitive framework that expands human perception and action. This study provides a theoretical
foundation for applying Fourth Space principles in architecture, human-computer interaction, and extended reality design, advocating for further
empirical research on how XR environments reshape embodied cognition. The implications extend to fields such as architectural space design,
robotics, and interactive learning environments, where human-technology integration is increasingly critical. |