Cultural Neuroscience

Cultural neuroscience is a field of study that examines the bidirectional influences of cultural and biological factors on the brain and behavior, including mental processes. Research in cultural neuroscience comprises theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding how cultural and biological factors affect the etiology of behavior. Empirical programs in cultural neuroscience seek to determine the root causes and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the etiology of complex behavior across cultures, including mental, neurological, and substance abuse (MNS) disorders. This chapter reviews theoretical, methodological, and empirical advances in cultural neuroscience and its implications for the discovery of cures and development of effective interventions for MNS disorders in global mental health.