Elsevier

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Volume 116, September 2020, Pages 109-119
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Cultural neuroscience and the research domain criteria: Implications for global mental health

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.06.005Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Culture is characterized in fundamental biobehavioral dimensions and behavior.

  • Cultural neuroscience within the RDoC framework advances evidence-based research.

  • Cultural aspects contribute to translational efforts in global mental health.

Abstract

A comprehensive understanding of the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms of the brain is important for the scientific discovery of root causes, risk and protective factors for mental disorders in global mental health. Systematic research in cultural neuroscience within the research domain criteria (RDoC) framework investigates the fundamental biobehavioral dimensions and observable behavior across cultures. Cultural dimensions are characterized in elements of circuit-based mechanisms and behavior across a range of analysis. Research approaches in cultural neuroscience within the RDoC framework advance the evidence-based resources for the development and implementation of cures, preventions and interventions to mental disorders in global mental health. This review presents a novel synthesis of foundations in cultural neuroscience within the research domain criteria framework to advance integrative, translational efforts in discovery and delivery science of mental disorders across cultural contexts in global mental health.

Introduction

Mental health is a chief component of the well-being of individuals, societies and nations. Mental health refers not only to the absence of disease, but also to total physical, mental and social well-being (Minas, 2014). Mental health is fundamental to quality of life and the fulfillment of human potential. The achievement of mental health care for all reflect cornerstones of human rights and human development for health equity. The goals of human development contribute to advancement of protections and empowerment that bolster mental health. The enhancement of protections for human freedoms and fulfillment of human potential enables people to live a long, fulfilling and productive life.

Section snippets

Grand challenges in global mental health

By 2030, the global burden of disease from mental, neurological and substance abuse (MNS) disorders is projected at approximately 13 %. Mental disorders contribute to an unmet need and societal burden due to premature mortality and morbidity. The annual global financial and societal cost for the advancement of prevention and interventions for MNS disorders is estimated at more than $600 billion per disorder. Identification of the causes and consequences of MNS disorders is a main priority in

Cultural neuroscience and global mental health

The goal to identify causes and consequences of MNS disorders relies on principles in global mental health that facilitate the investigation of biomarkers underlying MNS disorders around the world. Culture affects the manifestation and expression of mental disorders. Cultural processes guide societal practices that affect exposure to risk and protective factors for mental disorders. Research in cultural neuroscience provides theoretical, methodological and empirical foundations for the

Dual inheritance theory

Dual inheritance theory posits that cultural and genetic inheritance shapes the functional architecture of the mind and brain (Boyd and Richerson, 1985). Cultural and genetic inheritance serve as adaptations in response to environmental pressures. Environmental pressures differ across geography leading to cultural and genetic variation in the characteristics of adaptive behavior. Cultural inheritance imparts adaptations in groups through social learning, while genetic inheritance conveys

Methodological foundations in cultural neuroscience and global mental health

The investigation of multilevel mechanisms requires understanding the relation between brain and behavior across cultures. Methodological tools for the study of multilevel mechanisms allow for the measurement of cultural processes in genomic processes, neural mechanisms and behavior. Cultural processes within the genome, brain and behavior are identifiable as robust regularities in the patterns of physical and mental activity and their underlying relations. The systematic investigation of

Cultural neuroscience and the research domain criteria (RDoC)

Culture consists of a system of values, practices and beliefs that define a social group based on shared ancestry, geography, customs, language and ethnicity (Hong et al., 2000; Markus and Kitayama, 1991; Nisbett et al., 2001; Oyserman et al., 2002). Cultural constructs are defined as the processes and characteristics of the cultural system. Race refers to social groups defined on the basis of ancestral geographic origins, physical features or behavior (Eberhardt, 2005; Smedley and Smedley, 2005

Development

Developmental aspects include the set of constructs and processes that define stages of growth and maturation of a development period. The neurodevelopmental perspective refers to the stages of growth and maturation that characterize the development of the nervous system (Casey et al., 2014). Methodological approaches in the study of developmental aspects of cultural neuroscience include the use of study designs that measure processes and constructs across age periods. Cross-sectional design

Culture

Cultural aspects include the set of processes and constructs that define the cultural system of values, practices and beliefs based on geographic origin, shared ancestry, language, ethnic heritage and customs. Cultural dimensions are characterized in elements of fundamental biobehavioral dimensions and observable behavior. The relationship of cultural dimensions to neural circuits based on mental constructs and observable behavior is a foundational component to understanding fundamental

Implications for global mental health

The study of cultural neuroscience within the RDoC framework is foundational to an integrative, translational approach to mental disorders in global mental health. The systematic study of fundamental biobehavioral dimensions of the nervous system and observable behavior is essential to understanding the full range of variation and its dysregulation. The study of dimensions of psychopathology involves understanding the nonlinear relation between functioning mechanisms and severity of symptoms to

Conclusion

Research in cultural neuroscience within the research domain criteria (RDoC) framework provides a basic science, translational approach to understanding the fundamental biobehavioral dimensions of observable behavior across cultures. The RDoC framework in cultural neuroscience provides a systematic model for the study of the fundamental components of mental disorders across cultural contexts. Research that incorporates the RDoC framework in cultural neuroscience advances a system of integrative

Acknowledgements

We thank Beverly Pringle and Bruce Cuthbert for their helpful comments. Shu-Chen Li is funded by the Excellence Strategy of the DFG (EXC 2050/1-Project ID 390696704).

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