Brain in macro experiential context: biocultural co-construction of lifespan neurocognitive development
Research output: Contribution to book/conference proceedings/anthology/report › Chapter in book/anthology/report › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
For more than a century, neuroscientists have recognized that the brain is an open, adaptive system and that the organism's experiences are environmentally contextualized. However, the proposition that socio-cultural contexts may exert reciprocal influences on neurobiological mechanisms is rarely considered and could not be empirically explored until very recently. This article reviews the emerging trend of interdisciplinary research aiming at exploring the effects of socio-cultural influences on human brain functioning. Recent co-constructive views of brain development and functioning and empirical evidence of developmental plasticity at different levels are reviewed. Empirical findings that are indicative of reciprocal influences of social contexts, culture-specific language environment, and expertise training are highlighted. The quest to understand how individual brains get personalized through lifespan development that takes place in the macro socio-cultural experiential context is still at an embryonic stage. Nevertheless, studies reviewed here indicate that new conceptual and empirical opportunities for this endeavor are emerging.
Details
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Cultural Neuroscience: Cultural Influences on Brain Function |
Editors | Joan Y. Chiao |
Pages | 17-29 |
Publication status | Published - 2009 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
Externally published | Yes |
Publication series
Series | Progress in brain research |
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Volume | 178 |
ISSN | 0079-6123 |
External IDs
Scopus | 71149121515 |
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