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Artificial Cranial Deformation: Potential Implications for Affected Brain Function

Tyler G O’Brien

The anthropological study of the ancient cross-cultural practice of artificial cranial deformation (ACD), or intentional head modification, allows for the opportunity to assess the effects of functional interactions of the dynamic altered growth and development processes. Intentionally altering the infant skull is produced through mechanical means by attaching a device to the child’s head. Through the application of a deforming apparatus directly to the infant’s head, soon after birth and up to as long as four years, the child’s head becomes permanently altered. The amount of cranial modification and subsequent deformation is dependent upon the extent of time the molding apparatus is applied to the infant’s head. The longer the amount of time applied the greater the resulting stress and subsequent deformation. This paper explores the potential of inhibited cranial development or spatial disorientation and the subsequent effects it may have on adjacent functionally and morphologically related structures, especially as it pertains to brain function. A theoretical analysis is presented because of the practically non-existent data for this ancient practice. However, based onbioarchaeological and neurological analyses of the cranium and brain, it is highly suspected that ACD, in general, would have produced negative results to the lobes and abilities of the individual; such as: influencing vision, object recognition, hearing ability, impairing memory, promoting inattentiveness, inability to concentrate and motor aphasia, contributing to behavior disorders and difficulty in learning new information.