Connections between Culture and the Brain
Historical Considerations
Additionally, in practical terms, Eurocentric education has often failed to consider the cultural relevance of educational theories, especially for learners from non-European or non-Western backgrounds, hampering their engagement, motivation, and overall learning outcomes. Moreover, this perspective has perpetuated educational inequalities by favoring the cultural norms, values, and knowledge of dominant groups, leaving marginalized or minority groups at a disadvantage. Notably, Eurocentric education overlooks the strengths and assets that diverse cultural backgrounds bring to the educational process, such as unique problem-solving methods, creative approaches, and valuable knowledge systems. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the necessity for culturally responsive education, an approach that acknowledges and respects the cultural backgrounds and experiences of students. Culturally responsive pedagogy and andragogy aims to create inclusive learning environments that value diverse cultural perspectives, thereby addressing the limitations of historically Eurocentric educational theories and fostering a more equitable and inclusive educational system that recognizes and celebrates the cultural diversity of learners.
RESEARCH
What does the research say?
A synthesis of neuroscience and cultural studies, provides a deep dive into this mounting body of research, aiding educators in overcoming any cultural barriers (Kastanakis & Voyer, 2014). For example, researchers have specifically identified that culture influences perceptions of emotion, self, environment, and sensory perception. Additionally, these perceptions influence self-esteem, cognitive style memory, processing, and decision making (Kastanakis & Voyer, 2014). For a very short list of additional studies to support this notion:
- Cultural difference shape cognition (Ji & Yap, 2016).
- Culture shapes learning actions (Cerulo, Leschziner, & Shepherd, 2021).
- Culture influences must be considered in collaborative settings due to social cognitions relationship with culture (Pérez-Arce, 1999).
- Systematic reviews of cognition lack cultural variations for practice (Gutchess & Rajaram, 2023).
- More cultural variation is needed among authors (Chin, Caputo, Lin, & Hu, 2022).
- “Cognitive development itself is a cultural process” (Gauvain, Beebe, & Zhao, 2011, p.121-131).
There is no question that culture and its influences has been sculpted through generations, have left a mark on our cerebral circuits. For example, students from cultures that emphasize community and group accomplishment, for example, may approach problem-solving differently from those from individual-centric nations (Arieli, 2018; Sosik & Jung, 2002). Years of social contacts and experiences that promote teamwork above individual victory have wired their brain.