Psychology says people who constantly gesture while explaining ideas aren't simply expressive; Goldin-Meadow's research shows gestures help organize thinking during speech

If you've ever caught yourself waving your hands around while trying to explain something complicated, you're not alone, and you're not just being dramatic. According to a study by Autumn Hostetter, Martha Alibali, and Sotaro Kita in Language and Cognitive Processes, hand gestures may do some cognitive work behind the scenes. They seem to help speakers to make a jumbled idea into something that can be said, rather than just adorn what we say.

This isn't a wellness-influencer theory. It’s a real lab study, and it gives us a rather specific glimpse into why our hands seem to have a mind of their own when we’re explaining something.