Candela Antón, anthropologist: "The culture we are born into reshapes how we think."

In one of her most popular videos, anthropologist Candela Antón poses a thought experiment: imagine two newborns, one in Japan and the other in the Amazon. Although both have identical brains at birth , the context will determine significant differences in their cognitive development. According to Antón, it's not just a matter of speaking different languages ​​or adopting different customs , but rather that the brain itself evolves differently depending on the cultural environment.

Neuroplasticity demonstrates that experience alters the brain, and Candela applies this to the cultural realm. From the way we resolve conflicts to the expression of emotions , everything influences the development of brain areas linked to empathy and self-control . Thus, the same initial neurological structure can end up functioning differently depending on the type of society in which one grows up.

Culture and genetics: a closer relationship than it seems

Beyond the brain, the anthropologist points out that certain cultural factors—such as sustained stress or diet —can influence the expression of our genes. This phenomenon, known as epigenetics , implies that the experiences of one generation can leave chemical marks on DNA that are passed on to their descendants. Consequently, cultural legacy affects both what is learned and what is biological .

Candela mentions the case of the SRGAP2 gene , whose duplication coincided with the emergence of cultural behaviors in our ancestors. This suggests a direct connection between genetic evolution and culture . "Are you sure your way of thinking is uniquely yours?" the researcher asks at the end of the video. Her intervention invites us to reflect on how much of what we believe to be personal is actually the result of inherited cultural influences .