NEURAL CORRELATES - The developing brain is shaped by both biology and culture. Discuss the mechanisms by which this shaping might occur. Flashcards
In this section we present recent studies that used MRI and fMRI measures to examine what?
structural change and neural correlates of culturally related psychological processes
Structure for research on Neural Correlates and Structural Change?
4 points
- Intro
- Representations of Self versus Others
- Cognitive Processes
- Neuroanatomical differences
his particular area within cultural neuroscience has been a subject of what?
very active research
Culture plays a crucial role in ascribing meaning and value to the [blank]
self
Many cultural differences in psychology are based on what?
the different ways that people across cultures construe the self.
Many cultural differences in psychology are based on the different ways that people across cultures construe the self. For cultures such as those in Northern Europe… , whereas for cultures such as those in East Asia…
the self tends to be seen as more independent
the self may be understood as more interdependent (Hofstede).
Self-related neural activity in response to different situational and relational stimuli seems to parallel the findings from behavioral studies. For instance?
a study by Zhu et al (2007) found that both Chinese and Western participants showed greater activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) when judging traits about the self-versus familiar others; this was consistent with past research on the MPFC in relation to self-judgements relative to other judgements. However, in this study, only the Chinese participants showed greater MPFC activation when thinking about their mother vs familiar others.
a study by Zhu et al (2007) found that both Chinese and Western participants showed greater activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) when judging traits about the self-versus familiar others; this was consistent with past research on the MPFC in relation to self-judgements relative to other judgements. However, in this study, only the Chinese participants showed greater MPFC activation when thinking about their mother vs familiar others. What do these findings suggest?
That culture shapes the functional anatomy of self-representation.
What did Zhu et al (2007) find?
that both Chinese and Western participants showed greater activation in the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) when judging traits about the self-versus familiar others; this was consistent with past research on the MPFC in relation to self-judgements relative to other judgements. However, in this study, only the Chinese participants showed greater MPFC activation when thinking about their mother vs familiar others.
Why is imaging research on cognitive processes particularly interesting?
because it illuminates ways in which the cognitive processes underlying certain behaviors may actually be different across cultures, even when the behavioral responses appear similar.
Imaging research in this area is particularly interesting because it illuminates ways in which the cognitive processes underlying certain behaviors may actually be different across cultures, even when the behavioral responses appear similar. For example?
in number processing people from two different cultures may arrive at the same response when given the same numerical task, yet the psychological processes leading to the response may differ from one another.
in number processing people from two different cultures may arrive at the same response when given the same numerical task, yet the psychological processes leading to the response may differ from one another. - specific example?
In a study by Tang and colleagues (2006), native Chinese and English speakers engaged different brain regions when performing the same mental arithmetic tasks.
There were no differences in the accuracy or reaction times of participants completing this task, yet patterns of brain activation revealed significant differences.
In particular, whereas English speakers performing the addition task showed activation in language-related regions, such as the left perisylvian cortices (including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas), Chinese speakers showed stronger activation in vision and space processing regions, including visuo-premotor association areas.
In a study by [blank], native Chinese and English speakers engaged different brain regions when performing the same mental arithmetic tasks. There were no differences in the accuracy or reaction times of participants completing this task, yet patterns of brain activation revealed significant differences. In particular, whereas English speakers performing the addition task showed activation in language-related regions, such as the left perisylvian cortices (including Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas), Chinese speakers showed stronger activation in vision and space processing regions, including visuo-premotor association areas. What did the authors argue the findings were due to?
Tang and colleagues (2006)
Tang and colleagues (2006) argue that these differences are likely shaped by language and other features of the cultural environment, such as education and learning strategies.
Tang and colleagues (2006) argue that these differences are likely shaped by language and other features of the cultural environment, such as education and learning strategies. These findings are consistent with previous research showing what?
that talking aloud interferes with problem solving for Asian Americans, who may rely on language processes less during these tasks compared with European Americans (Kim, 2002).
The neural evidence on cultural difference in numeric processing, in conjunction with behavioral evidence on language use and problem solving, suggests what rather convincingly ?
that even the same response may be supported by quite different psychological processes, depending on culture.
