---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The integrative powers of the brain for…"
description: "\"“The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all other domains of intelligence.”\" — Edward O..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg"
---

#  The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations…

![“The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all other domains of intelligence.” quote by Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg)

> ““The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all other domains of intelligence.””

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The brain’s ability to manipulate objects enhances intelligence across many domains, linking perception to broader cognitive powers.

**In simple terms:** Handling objects boosts overall intelligence.

Key Takeaway

Engage hands‑on learning.

Themes

cognition embodiment intelligence

Mood

analytical curious

Type

academic educational

When to use this quote

- education
- psychology
- neuroscience

Key Concepts

sensorimotor integration neuroscience learning theory

Questions to Reflect On

- How can tactile learning improve skills?
- What domains benefit most?

A Different Perspective

Hands‑on tasks may not suit all.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Intelligence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/)

## Related quotes

> [“When you walked through a park, the immersive world that surrounded you was something that existed inside your own brain as a pattern of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/when-you-walked-through-a-park-the-immersive-world-that-surrounded/)

[Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/)

> [We try to place the human body in relation to the image all the time, so it's never a kind of a backdrop, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mcburney/we-try-to-place-the-human-body-in-relation-to-the-image-all-the-time/)

[Simon McBurney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mcburney/)

> [Whenever I write about mental health and integrative therapies, I am accused of being prejudiced against pharmaceuticals. So let me be clear - integrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/whenever-i-write-about-mental-health-and-integrative-therapies-i-am/)

[Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/)

> [The most fundamental form of integrative power is the power of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-most-fundamental-form-of-integrative-power-is-the-power-of-love/)

[Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/)

> [I'm not a separatist. The imagination is integrative. That's how you make the new -- by putting something else with what you've got. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/i-m-not-a-separatist-the-imagination-is-integrative-that-s-how-you/)

[Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/)

> [ Integrative power \[is\] the ultimate power ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/integrative-power-is-the-ultimate-power/)

[Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/)

> [Critiquing relieves you of the responsibility of doing integrative thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/critiquing-relieves-you-of-the-responsibility-of-doing-integrative/)

[Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/)

> [I was blown away when I figured out that none of the great integrative moves that I studied came as a result of starting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-martin/i-was-blown-away-when-i-figured-out-that-none-of-the-great/)

[Roger Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-martin/)

> [ \[The integrative system\] deals with such matters as respect, legitimacy, community, friendship, affection, love, and of course their opposites, across a broad scale of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-e-boulding/the-integrative-system-deals-with-such-matters-as-respect-legitimacy/)

[Kenneth E. Boulding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-e-boulding/)

> [I approach the world as a whole by taking an integrative approach, not a world of parts, and I like to bring different fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neri-oxman/i-approach-the-world-as-a-whole-by-taking-an-integrative-approach-not/)

[Neri Oxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neri-oxman/)

> ["Integrative" simply means that this approach attempts to include as many important truths from as many disciplines as possible-from East as well as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-wilber/integrative-simply-means-that-this-approach-attempts-to-include-as/)

[Ken Wilber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-wilber/)

> [The integrative tendencies of the individual operate through the mechanisms of empathy, sympathy, projection, introjection, identification, worship- all of which make him feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-integrative-tendencies-of-the-individual-operate-through-the/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I am a particular fan of integrative exercise - that is, exercise that occurs in the course of doing some productive activity such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-weil/i-am-a-particular-fan-of-integrative-exercise-that-is-exercise-that/)

[Andrew Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-weil/)

> [“People must therefore get away from the idea that serious work is restricted to beating to death a well-defined problem in a narrow discipline,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-christian/people-must-therefore-get-away-from-the-idea-that-serious-work-is/)

[David Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-christian/)

> [“As we mature, our brain develops the ability to mix things together, to hold different perceptions, senses, thoughts, feelings, and impulses all at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-we-mature-our-brain-develops-the-ability-to-mix-things-together-to/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

## More by Edward O. Wilson

> [“Nature is the birthright of everyone on Earth. The millions of species we have allowed to survive are our phylogenetic kin. Their long-term history…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/nature-is-the-birthright-of-everyone-on-earth-the-millions-of-species/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Traditional religious beliefs have been eroded, not so much by humiliating disproofs of their mythologies as by the growing awareness that beliefs are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/traditional-religious-beliefs-have-been-eroded-not-so-much-by/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [ “\[E\]very major religion today is a winner in the Darwinian struggle waged among cultures, and none ever flourished by tolerating its rivals.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/e-very-major-religion-today-is-a-winner-in-the-darwinian-struggle/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Overall, it seems now possible to draw a reasonably good explanation of why the human condition is a singularity, why the likes of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/overall-it-seems-now-possible-to-draw-a-reasonably-good-explanation/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“let’s also promote the humanities, that which makes us human, and not use science to mess around with the wellspring of this, the absolute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/let-s-also-promote-the-humanities-that-which-makes-us-human-and-not/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Moreover, we look in vain to philosophy for the answer to the great riddle. Despite its noble purpose and history, pure philosophy long ago…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/moreover-we-look-in-vain-to-philosophy-for-the-answer-to-the-great/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Annie Dillard was a pioneer in her Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, which won a Pulitzer Prize in 1974. Among other notable examples are David…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/annie-dillard-was-a-pioneer-in-her-pilgrim-at-tinker-creek-which-won/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“The creation myth is a Darwinian device for survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-creation-myth-is-a-darwinian-device-for-survival/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Human beings and their social orders are intrinsically imperfectible and fortunately so. In a constantly changing world, we need the flexibility that only imperfection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/human-beings-and-their-social-orders-are-intrinsically-imperfectible/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Another principle that I believe can be justified by scientific evidence so far is that nobody is going to emigrate from this planet not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/another-principle-that-i-believe-can-be-justified-by-scientific/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“To explore and affiliate with life is a deep and complicated process in mental development. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/to-explore-and-affiliate-with-life-is-a-deep-and-complicated-process/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Social intelligence was therefore always at a high premium. A sharp sense of empathy can make a huge difference, and with it in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/social-intelligence-was-therefore-always-at-a-high-premium-a-sharp/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Somewhere close I knew spear-nosed bats flew through the tree crowns in search of fruit, palm vipers coiled in ambush in the roots of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/somewhere-close-i-knew-spear-nosed-bats-flew-through-the-tree-crowns/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Meat yields higher energy per gram eaten than does vegetation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/meat-yields-higher-energy-per-gram-eaten-than-does-vegetation/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

> [“Dawkins is an eloquent science journalist. What else is he? I mean journalism is a high and influential profession. But he’s not a scientist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/dawkins-is-an-eloquent-science-journalist-what-else-is-he-i-mean/)

[Edward O. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

[Explore all 56 Edward O. Wilson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/)

## More Intelligence quotes

> [If you can do anything for love there's no reason you can't do everything to someone you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayjay-guillermo/if-you-can-do-anything-for-love-there-s-no-reason-you-can-t-do/)

[Jayjay Guillermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayjay-guillermo/)

> [Long before the 2016 presidential campaign, confidential sources had alerted me to longstanding misuses of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court system and the erosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharyl-attkisson/long-before-the-2016-presidential-campaign-confidential-sources-had/)

[Sharyl Attkisson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharyl-attkisson/)

> [“If people fully understand you, they will think of you as a normal, if they half understand you, will think of you as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/if-people-fully-understand-you-they-will-think-of-you-as-a-normal-if/)

[M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/)

> [Woman, in short, has an unconscious life, man a conscious life, and the genius the most conscious life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-weininger/woman-in-short-has-an-unconscious-life-man-a-conscious-life-and-the/)

[Otto Weininger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-weininger/)

> [“The mystery of the world is revealed only to the person who can look upon the material world with his physical eyes and simultaneously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/awdhesh-singh/the-mystery-of-the-world-is-revealed-only-to-the-person-who-can-look/)

[Awdhesh Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/awdhesh-singh/)

> [Plainly, the environment must be a living one, directed by a higher intelligence, arranged by an adult who is prepared for his mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/plainly-the-environment-must-be-a-living-one-directed-by-a-higher/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [“Your mind has the intellect to lift the world, your heart has the wisdom to better the world, and your soul has the genius…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/your-mind-has-the-intellect-to-lift-the-world-your-heart-has-the/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [An ex is an ex for a reason, they are an EXample of what you don't want in your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexia/an-ex-is-an-ex-for-a-reason-they-are-an-example-of-what-you-don-t/)

[Alexia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexia/)

> [“When it comes to smarts, adolescents like Jesse have plenty. What they lack, however, are some of the brain-based skills that we all need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-guare/when-it-comes-to-smarts-adolescents-like-jesse-have-plenty-what-they/)

[Richard Guare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-guare/)

> [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [If you've got creativity, imagination, and intelligence, and you want to be hypnotised, then there's no reason you shouldn't be able to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-barry/if-you-ve-got-creativity-imagination-and-intelligence-and-you-want-to/)

[Keith Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-barry/)

> [“A smart person learns from his mistakes, but a truly wise person learns from the mistakes of others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-schramm/a-smart-person-learns-from-his-mistakes-but-a-truly-wise-person/)

Ken Schramm

> [One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius; and the feminine situation has up to the present rendered this becoming practically impossible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/one-is-not-born-a-genius-one-becomes-a-genius-and-the-feminine/)

[Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/)

> [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [For the execution of the voyage to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics or maps.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/for-the-execution-of-the-voyage-to-the-indies-i-did-not-make-use-of/)

[Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/)

[Browse all 9,546 Intelligence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intelligence/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all other domains of intelligence.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Edward O. Wilson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for-the-sensations-that-come-from/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Intelligence"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for-the-sensations-that-come-from/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ab6/edward-o-wilson-12084_intelligence_the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for_2817159.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“The integrative powers of the brain for the sensations that come from handling objects spills out into all…” — Edward O. Wilson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Edward O. Wilson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-o-wilson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“The integrative powers of the brain...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for-the-sensations-that-come-from/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-o-wilson/the-integrative-powers-of-the-brain-for-the-sensations-that-come-from/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
