Emiliano Bruner, a paleoneurologist at the Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), has just published a review article about the relationship between anthropology and neuroscience, and the new disciplines which are integrating the cognitive sciences with paleoanthropology. In particular, the paper presents the potential and limitations of paleoneurology, neuroarchaeology, and cognitive archaeology, introducing the methods and principles that define these fields of research.

Anthropology and neuroscience have always enjoyed a relationship of cultural affinity, as both are fields that relate to the human being and cognitive abilities. Even so, the different methods and criteria of the two have thrown up barriers which efforts are being made to dismantle, above all thanks to their common use of computerized or molecular methods. “In fact, prehistory is a good meeting place if we consider the interest both domains have in human evolution”, says Bruner.

To present the changes and advances in these cutting-edge disciplines, Bruner relates his own academic career over the last twenty years. He also introduces the cultural context in which they have developed, as well as epistemological and social factors which could bias both the training paths of those who choose to study them and the acceptance of their professional framework.

This paper forms part of the issue dedicated to the centenary of the Journal of Anthropological Sciences, published by the Italian Institute of Anthropology, of which institution Bruner served as vice-secretary and councillor for many years.