| Pascal Boyer's work as head of the Memory & Development Lab is aimed at describing neuro-cognitive systems that [a] are part of the normal make-up of human minds as a result of evolution by natural selection and [b] support the acquisition of cultural knowledge, concepts and norms. A good part of this research consists in experimental studies of adults and young children in natural and lab contexts. Current studies focus on anxiety and ritual behavior, on source memory and on early numerical capacities. | Jim Wertschstudies psychological and cultural aspects of collective memory. The topic of collective memory as recently received renewed interest in the humanities and social sciences, and it is the focus of integrated research and teaching at Washington University. This involves colleagues in Anthropology such as Pascal Boyer and Psychology such as Roddy Roediger. Boyer and Wertsch edited the volume Memory in Mind and Culture. |