Iniciativa Fundamentos Evolutivos de la Mente y la Condición Humana (HUMAN)

Initiative for Human Understanding, Mind and Anthropogenesis (HUMAN)

Where evolution articulates brain, mind and human diversity as a biocultural continuum.

Initiative for Human Understanding, Mind and Anthropogenesis (HUMAN)

The CRAI's research initiative, Evolutionary Foundations of the Mind and the Human Condition, examines the origin, emergence, and diversity of humanity from an evolutionary and integrative perspective. Our goal is to understand when and how the human mind arises, what neurobiological, cognitive, and cultural processes shape it, and why the human species exhibits such wide variability in its forms of perception, thought, emotion, and behavior.

This program integrates neurobiology, psychology, anthropology, cognitive science, and cultural history to analyze the co-evolution of brain, consciousness, culture, and environment. By situating human beings within their phylogenetic and ontogenetic context, we seek to develop robust explanatory frameworks for identity, symbolic thought, self-awareness, and human neurodiversity.

Objectives

This line of research pursues objectives aimed at understanding the human mind from an evolutionary, integrative perspective with applied projection.
Our objectives focus on the following aspects:

Analyzing the evolutionary foundations of the human mind and the emergence of consciousness

Understanding the neurobiological, cognitive, and cultural processes that shape the human condition

To investigate the evolutionary origin of symbolic thought, language, and culture

Studying neurodiversity as an expression of differentiated evolutionary trajectories

Develop integrative models that explain cognitive and behavioral variations in the human species

To generate applicable knowledge that contributes to the design of educational, social, and health strategies aimed at improving the quality of life of neurodiverse groups and other human groups with specific needs

Projects in development

Neurodiversity and evolutionary trajectories
Analysis of cognitive and behavioral variability from an evolutionary perspective, including profiles associated with ADHD, ASD, and other neurodiverse expressions.
➞ Learn more

Evolution of the mind and consciousness
Study of the neurobiological and cognitive processes involved in the emergence of consciousness and human self-perception.
➞ Learn more

Cognition, culture, and symbolism
Research on the origin of symbolic thought, language, and cultural structures as emergent phenomena of human evolution.
➞ Learn more

Theoretical and comparative modeling
Development of conceptual and comparative models that integrate neurobiological, anthropological and cultural data to explain the human condition in relation to different evolutionary moments and associated cognitive configurations.

Methodological approach

The methodological approach integrates different perspectives to analyze the human mind as an emergent phenomenon of interdependent biocultural processes. Through comparative analysis and theoretical modeling, evolutionary patterns are identified, and rigorous explanatory frameworks are generated that allow for an understanding of neurodiversity and its adaptive relevance. The HUMAN initiative adopts a multidisciplinary approach that combines:

neurobiology and cognitive neuroscience

evolutionary and developmental psychology

biological and cultural anthropology

cognitive and behavioral sciences

comparative analysis and integrative theoretical models

systematic review and interdisciplinary synthesis

This approach allows us to address the human mind as a complex system, resulting from evolutionary interactions between biology, culture, and environment.

Scientific and social relevance

Understanding the evolutionary foundations of the mind and the human condition is key to addressing contemporary challenges such as neurodiversity, psychological distress, chronic stress, and social fragmentation. This line of research contributes to a deeper and more contextualized view of human beings, providing a scientific basis for educational, clinical, and social approaches that are more aligned with our evolutionary nature.

Team and collaborations

The initiative is in the development phase within the CRAI and is open to national and international collaborations in the fields of neuroscience, anthropology, psychology, cognitive science, and interdisciplinary research. ➞ Learn more

Collaboration opportunities

The CRAI invites researchers, academic institutions and entities interested in the integrative study of the human mind and the human condition to explore possible joint projects, research programs and strategic collaborations.

Contact