Cross-cultural
study on essential moral self
Heavy metals such as lead and cadmium have long been considered developmental neurotoxins, and vulnerable populations are often disproportionately affected by exposure. Heavy metals are dangerous due to their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and produce several neurodevelopmental problems, including problems with cognition, motor skills, and learning ability. However, the mechanisms by which neurotoxins disrupt neurodevelopment and neurodifferentiation are not well understood, and the objective of this project is to better understand how lead and cadmium exposure influence early brain development. The main hypothesis is that lead and cadmium exposure both harm neurodifferentiation. Specifically, heavy metal exposure may lead to different neural cell type proportions during development, which would disrupt the delicate balance required for proper neural functioning. In order to test this hypothesis, we will use Brain Spheres, where human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are differentiated into neural progenitor cells (NPCs) that differentiate further into a 3D model. This organoid model produces different neural cell types, including various neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, similar to how these cells develop in the human cortex. Brain Spheres are best suited for this research due to their myelination, self- directed transition during neurodifferentiation, and size-constrained growth that allows for reproducibility. There are limited organoid studies with physiologically relevant doses of lead or cadmium. In this study, neural progenitor cells will be exposed to control (vehicle), low-dose, and high-dose concentrations of either lead or cadmium followed by monitoring for eight weeks. Morphological changes to the cells will be visualized with brightfield microscopy. Molecular cell type proportions and neural gene expression levels will be analyzed with RT-PCR. Results will advance our understanding of the sensitive time periods and cell types that are especially vulnerable to heavy metal exposures during early brain development, providing insights into consequences for neurodifferentiation. Ultimately, these studies will help to better inform policymakers and the public on the neurodevelopmental consequences of lead and cadmium exposures, supporting implementation of necessary changes to promote health equity. Presenter: Shakhrizoda Abdujabborova
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Cross-cultural study on essential moral self
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Many traits make a person who they are, but some traits contribute more to a person's sense of self than others. Previous research has found that morality is more central to the self than other traits, such as memory, perception, personality, and preference. Since previous effects have only been established in the context of the US, our work has extended these findings to 5 more countries with diverse cultural backgrounds. To examine similarities and differences in how people perceive the essential moral self, we surveyed adult participants from the US, Mexico, Colombia, Ghana, India, and the Philippines (with work in China and Kazakhstan in progress). We asked participants to rate the centrality of various traits, and, importantly, allow for cultural variation in moral beliefs by directly measuring perceptions of morality. Despite cultural differences in the concept of the self and beliefs about morality, we found that people around the world consider morality to be central to the self with striking regularity. This suggests that considering morality to be particularly essential to the self may be a universal human tendency.
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Duke University / 2026
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Cross-cultural study on essential moral self