The body and the brain: Neuroscience and the representation of anthropomorphs in palaeoart

Abstract

Previous studies on palaeoart employing a neuroscientific perspective have focused largely on the representation of animals. Anthropomorphs are one of the most common subjects depicted in palaeoart worldwide, yet the understanding of this category of imagery has not benefited from such an approach. This paper demonstrates how an understanding of inherent aspects of human neurophysiology and visual perception may help to explain the derivation and persistence of anthropomorphs in rock art and portable art around the world, and contribute to explaining ways in which they are commonly portrayed. It considers the significance of recent neuroscientific data in understanding how the human body is processed and represented in the brain and the influences this has on its graphic representation.

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