2024/06/26 by Mercedes Conde‐Valverde, Amara Quirós-Sánchez, Julia Diez‐Valero +10 · 1 voice
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Autism Spectrum Disorder Research #Cleft Lip and Palate Research #Compassion #Craniofacial Disorders and Treatments #Developmental psychology #Feeling #History #Medicine #Neanderthal #Prosocial behavior #Psychology #Social psychology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/sciadv.adn9310
openalex publication_date 2024/06/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/19
Caregiving for disabled individuals among Neanderthals has been known for a long time, and there is a debate about the implications of this behavior. Some authors believe that caregiving took place between individuals able to reciprocate the favor, while others argue that caregiving was produced by a feeling of compassion related to other highly adaptive prosocial behaviors. The study of children with severe pathologies is particularly interesting, as children have a very limited possibility to reciprocate the assistance. We present the case of a Neanderthal child who suffered from a congenital pathology of the inner ear, probably debilitating, and associated with Down syndrome. This child would have required care for at least 6 years, likely necessitating other group members to assist the mother in childcare.