Exploring Amazonian Cognitive Diversity at Chana Research Station
The Chana Research Station for Language Sciences and Interculturality is a scientific initiative dedicated to exploring the linguistic, cultural, and cognitive diversity of the Peruvian Amazon. Building on long-standing local partnerships and collaborations, Chana facilitates research on cognition that extends beyond populations from industrialized democracies, traditionally overrepresented in behavioral sciences. Other populations-such as those in Amazonia-exhibit remarkable diversity. With this in mind, current Chana projects and collaborations encompass research on how Amazonian unique linguistic structures and culturally significant practices shape language processing and acquisition, as well as nonlinguistic cognition; studies on cognition focused on quantification practices in cultures with limited or unconventional numeral systems; and cross-cultural investigations of perception, building on prior research in other regions of the Amazon and the world. Beyond human cognition, the station has also supported experimental research on the relationship between domesticated dogs and their owners. Chana prioritizes inclusive and ethical research that benefits and includes local communities and their perspectives by engaging local and Indigenous researchers, and leading social and educational projects focused on cultural revitalization. Chana welcomes collaboration with researchers who are interested in advancing the understanding of Amazonian societies, languages, and knowledge systems.
Authors
- Malinda J. McPherson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0786-6774)
- Sabine Stoll (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6328-5654)
- Alonso Vásquez-Aguilar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5856-9863)
- Johanna Schick (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4009-1683)
- Caroline Andrews
- Balthasar Bickel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9087-0565)
- Natalia Morozova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6731-4608)
- Russell D. Gray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9858-0191)
- Mariana Poblete (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0253-712X)
- Juliane Bräuer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3613-3767)
- Arrate Isasi-Isasmendi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8574-8282)
- Josh H. McDermott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3965-2503)
- Rafael Núñez
- Roberto Zariquiey
- Eduardo A. Undurraga
- Seleni Rojas
- Glendy Rosario Sánchez Díaz
- Albert Maroto González
- Lea Ulverich
Institutions
- Leiden University (NL)
- Harvard University (US)
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research (US)
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour (FR)
- University of Auckland (NZ)
- Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (CL)
- Schiller International University (FR)
- Purdue University West Lafayette (US)
- ETH Zurich (CH)
- University of California San Diego (US)
- Institute of Cognitive and Brain Sciences (US)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Institute of Linguistics (CN)
- Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque (FR)
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology (DE)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (US)
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PE)
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Topics in Cognitive Science
- Published
- 2026-05-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/tops.70047
- Primary Topic
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú