Abstract
A central claim of cultural neuroscience is that the culture to which an individual belongs plays a key role in shaping basic cognitive processes and behaviours, including eye movement behaviour. We previously reported a robust difference in saccade behaviour between Chinese and Caucasian participants; Chinese participants are much more likely to execute low latency express saccades, in circumstances in which these are normally discouraged. To assess the extent to which this is the product of culture we compared a group of 70 Chinese overseas students (whose primary cultural exposure was that of mainland China), a group of 45 participants whose parents were Chinese but who themselves were brought up in the UK (whose primary cultural exposure was western European) and a group of 70 Caucasian participants. Results from the Schwartz Value Survey confirmed that the UK-Chinese group were culturally similar to the Caucasian group. However, their patterns of saccade latency were identical to the mainland Chinese group, and different to the Caucasian group. We conclude that at least for the relatively simple reflexive saccade behaviour we have investigated, culture cannot explain the observed differences in behaviour.
Highlights
Cognitive and behavioural differences between human populations have been reported in a wide range of studies [1,2,3,4,5,6], contributing to the emergence of ‘‘cultural neuroscience’’ [7,8,9,10]
The overall pattern of value scores suggested that the BC and WB groups were broadly similar, and both were different to the CC group
As we observed previously [16], it was in overlap conditions that the clearest differences emerged between the two Chinese groups and the Caucasian group, we examined the distribution of saccade latency in these conditions by calculating average percentage distributions for each group
Summary
Cognitive and behavioural differences between human populations have been reported in a wide range of studies [1,2,3,4,5,6], contributing to the emergence of ‘‘cultural neuroscience’’ [7,8,9,10]. One means of addressing this issue is to recruit participant groups of identical ethnic background, but whose primary cultural exposure differs Experiments of this type have tended to suggest that culture has a relatively weak influence on at least some aspects of behaviour [29,30]. Schwartz values theory derives a limited number of values that are claimed to be present in all human cultures because they are grounded in the needs of individuals as biological organisms, the requirements imposed by the need for coordinated social interaction, and the needs of the survival and welfare of groups To identify these values, and determine their relative importance within different groups, the Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) was developed and has been widely used [36,37,38], including in a number of cultural neuroscience studies [39,40]. If culture is the key driver of the oculomotor differences we have observed, assuming the British-born/educated Chinese group is culturally distinct from the Chinese-born Chinese group, their oculomotor performance should be different, and more closely resemble that of the Caucasian group
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
