Risky Moves: Faster Movements Increase Perceived Thought Speed, but Do Not Lead to Riskier Behaviour on the Ballon Analogue Risk Task

Background: When an individual perceives their mind is racing or overcrowded with thoughts, they are experiencing increased thought speed. Thought speed can be increased when watching fast moving images or text and has been linked to greater risk-taking behaviour. Purpose: Embodied cognition provides a perspective linking movements and cognition, and abstract concepts such as risk. The purpose of this study was to use this perspective to assess whether perceived speed of thought can be changed using self controlled body movements rather than observing movements, and if these manipulations have effects on risk taking behaviour as measured by the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART). Research Design: In two experiments, participants performed a Fitts’ tapping task (Experiment 1) or a reciprocal foot stepping task (Experiment 2) using either fast or slow movements. Participants then completed the BART, in which they received money for more virtual pumps of a computerised balloon, however each pump risked bursting the balloon and losing any money already earned. This task generates several measures such as the number of pumps, time between pumps, and number of explosions. In both experiments, the fast movements induced significantly faster perceived thought speeds than the slower movements. Sample: The study tested 30 participants in Experiment 1 (18 males, 12 females) and 36 in Experiment 2 (17 males, 19 females). Analysis: One-way ANOVAs were used to compare fast and slow movement conditions. Results: Despite the significant differences in thought speed in both experiments, neither found a pattern of greater risk-taking behaviour on any of the BART measures for the faster movement groups. Conclusions: These findings contrast with previous work and provide an updated perspective from embodied cognition on how movements affect thought speed. This opens avenues for future work, including interventions that may influence the risk level of tactical game play in sport.