Cultural neuroscience and its implications in healthcare - a narrative review

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) addresses the impact of cultural stigma and taboos on mental health, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and vaccine hesitancy, amongst other global health initiatives. Stigma and taboos, rooted in cultural and societal norms, hinder equitable access to care, erode trust in healthcare, and perpetuate misinformation. To combat these barriers, MSF employs culturally sensitive, community-centred strategies, including education campaigns, local partnerships, and psychosocial support. Initiatives such as tele-Mental Health services, Teen Mums’ Clubs, and vaccine education programs foster awareness, normalize care, and dismantle misconceptions. By integrating advocacy and research, MSF champions global health equity and drives sustainable progress in humanitarian healthcare.

Cultural neuroscience and its implications in healthcare - a narrative review

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Cultural+neuroscience+and+its+implications+in+healthcare+-+a+narrative+review.pdf(718.88 KB)

Published Version

Date

2025

Authors

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) addresses the impact of cultural stigma and taboos on mental health, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and vaccine hesitancy, amongst other global health initiatives. Stigma and taboos, rooted in cultural and societal norms, hinder equitable access to care, erode trust in healthcare, and perpetuate misinformation. To combat these barriers, MSF employs culturally sensitive, community-centred strategies, including education campaigns, local partnerships, and psychosocial support. Initiatives such as tele-Mental Health services, Teen Mums’ Clubs, and vaccine education programs foster awareness, normalize care, and dismantle misconceptions. By integrating advocacy and research, MSF champions global health equity and drives sustainable progress in humanitarian healthcare.

Publisher

UCC Medical Research and Technology Society

Published Version

10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.16

Abstract

Cultural influences, including language, shared values and social structures, play a critical role in shaping neural organization and brain development. This narrative review from UCC's Neuroscience and Neurology Society aims to explore new findings in the emerging field of cultural neuroscience, focusing on how an individual’s culture and environment influences their neurocognitive processes, and how this understanding can be applied to advance community-based, inclusive research.

Keywords

Cultural neuroscience , Neuroscience , Neurophysiology , Neuroanatomy , Culture

Citation

Mehta, S., Sait, M., Singh, M., Malhotra, A., Al-Shamaa, N., Shoaib, A., Ransom, C., Orhadje, G., Watson, A., Hartnett, A. and Rasper, K. (2025) 'Cultural neuroscience and its implications in healthcare - a narrative review', UCC Student Medical Journal, 5, pp. 76-80. https://doi.org/10.33178/SMJ.2025.1.16