When we think, we often use small, unconscious cues to shape and express our thoughts. These can be things like the direction we look, the tone of our voice, how fast we talk, our posture, gestures and even how we breathe. These small signals can give us an idea of how someone is thinking or what type of image they have in their head. For example, some people look up when trying to remember something they have seen, or they may look down when focusing on their feelings.

Eyes follow thoughts

These subtle behaviours are not the same in everyone; some are unique to the individual. But often we can recognise general patterns that tell us about the way a person processes information. This idea that our small movements and behaviours are linked to our thoughts was noted long ago by American psychologist William James. He saw that certain small movements always go hand in hand with thought processes:

• Visual:If someone often looks up or gestures towards their eyes, it could mean they are visually imagining or remembering something. You might notice that they breathe shallowly and their voice may be higher and faster when they talk.
• Auditive:When someone looks to the side or makes movements like they are pointing to their ears, this could be a sign that they are concentrating on sounds or a conversation in their head. Their breathing is more relaxed and from the belly, and the tone and speed of their voice may vary.
• Kinesthetic:When someone looks down or gestures towards their body, it may indicate a focus on feelings or physical sensations. They often breathe more deeply from the abdomen and their voice may be deeper and slower.

These small clues can help us understand how someone is thinking or processing information without them saying it explicitly.