The brain-artefact interface (BAI): a challenge for archaeology and cultural neuroscience

Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2010 Jun;5(2-3):264-73. doi: 10.1093/scan/nsp057.

Abstract

Cultural neuroscience provides a new approach for understanding the impact of culture on the human brain (and vice versa) opening thus new avenues for cross-disciplinary collaboration with archaeology and anthropology. Finding new meaningful and productive unit of analysis is essential for such collaboration. But what can archaeological preoccupation with material culture and long-term change contribute to this end? In this article, I introduce and discuss the notion of the brain-artefact interface (BAI) as a useful conceptual bridge between neuroplastisty and the extended mind. I argue that a key challenge for archaeology and cultural neuroscience lies in the cross-disciplinary understanding of the processes by which our plastic enculturated brains become constituted within the wider extended networks of non-biological artefacts and cultural practices that delineate the real spatial and temporal boundaries of the human cognitive map.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthropology, Cultural
  • Archaeology / methods*
  • Artifacts*
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Brain Mapping
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Culture*
  • Humans
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Neurosciences / methods*