Latest

culture

·June 13, 2025·5 min read

Across Generations, Humans Are Driven to Keep Culture Alive

A new paper proposes the cultural continuity hypothesis, suggesting that humans are universally driven to preserve essential aspects of their culture across generations. Drawing on psychology, sociology, and anthropology, the researchers argue that cultural retention fosters identity, belonging, and psychological well-being.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 30, 2025·5 min read

Dance and Lullabies May Not Be Human Universals After All

New research challenges the long-held belief that dance and lullabies are universal to human culture. Drawing on over four decades of ethnographic work among the Northern Aché people in Paraguay, researchers found no evidence of group dancing or infant-directed singing.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·February 26, 2024·6 min read

Music’s Universal Pulse: Body and Emotions Unite Across Cultures

A groundbreaking cross-cultural study has revealed that music universally influences bodily sensations and emotions, transcending cultural boundaries. Researchers from Western and East Asian backgrounds discovered that emotional and structural characteristics of music consistently evoke similar bodily sensations—such as changes in the chest, limbs, and head regions—regardless of cultural background.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 8, 2023·4 min read

Time-Traveling Minds: Decoding History Through Tech

Modern computing methods like text mining, face detection, and melodic extraction are allowing cognitive scientists to analyze historical cultural artifacts at scale, uncovering psychological data of past societies. By studying media consumption, such as the prevalence of sad music or the portrayal of leaders in portraits, researchers can infer societal psychological trends.

This shows a woman standing next to a mask and a painting of an eye

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Visual Neuroscience

·December 19, 2022·5 min read

Some Claim Culture Affects Our Basic Visual Perception

The basics of visual perception, such as object orientation, are largely independent of cultural variation and apply broadly across human populations.

This shows a young girl eating marshmallows

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 22, 2022·6 min read

A New Take on the ‘Marshmallow Test’: When It Comes to Resisting Temptation, a Child’s Cultural Upbringing Matters

Delayed gratification isn't all about genetics or brain development, it's also about habits supported by the culture in which a child is raised.

This shows three girls with gorgeous hair

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 5, 2022·6 min read

Black Girls Commonly Have Negative Experiences Related to Their Natural Hair

Many young Black girls face bullying, teasing, and unwanted touching of their natural hair by other youngsters. This has a negative effect on body image. Researchers address strategies to promote positive body image in young Black women and girls.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 27, 2022·5 min read

How Abstract Concepts Are Represented in the Brain Across Cultures and Languages

Researchers explore the impact of different cultures and languages on the development of abstract thoughts in the brain, reporting those who grew up in different cultures and speak different languages form abstract concepts in the same brain region.

This shows an artistic painting on wood of a young woman's face

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 23, 2022·4 min read

Arts Activities May Improve Self-Control and Reduce Antisocial Behavior Among Teenagers

Participating in artistic or culturally enriching activities such as acting and dance, or attending concerts reduces a teenager's risk of antisocial or criminal activities, a new study reveals.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 17, 2021·2 min read

New Perspectives in Human Behavior and Culture

Researchers comment on a new theory of human behavior in traditional societies and advocate for a new, fully integrated evolutionary theory of human behavior.