Paper long abstract:

The extent of our physical ability and cultural development is determined by our brain and its associated neural network. In anthropology, biological anthropology deals with our human brain, as a biological component, whereas social (cultural) anthropology deals with our culture and ignores the brain most of the time. There seems to be a gap between these two parts of anthropology. In order to answer this question, Daniel H. Lende and Greg Downey, about a decade ago, proposed a new path of study within anthropology, named 'Neuroanthropology', that sought to bridge the gap between biology and culture in anthropology by keeping the brain at the centre. Neuroanthropology believes that our brains not only influence our culture but our culture influences our brains as well, in a cyclic process. This article provides an insight into Neuroanthropology, how it came into being and how it can be used in academics as a tool in order to give us a better understanding of ourselves. It also highlights the fair share of criticisms and obstacles it faces and what lies in the future for neuroanthropology.