Q.O.D. (Question of the day) answer

What is the relationship between gesture and thought? How do actors incorporate gestures into their performance. How conscious is the actor's hand? 

 Gestures help express thoughts as the performers speak. They accompany the speaker so that the audience would better understand what the performer is implying; it also brings emotion to speech. The actor's hand is half conscious, as part of the attention goes to their speech.