Bones, brains, and bias-neural crest cell contribution to craniofacial structure

Implicit bias is a natural part of the human psyche and facial appearance is one of the first aspects that people notice when encountering new individuals. The cranial neural crest is key to formation of the facial structure as it is a developmentally transient and plastic cell population that contributes to the neural, muscular, cartilage and bone structures of the face and head. This remarkable cell population, within the context of genetic potential, can play a substantial role in determining how individuals' faces and heads form as well as contributing to anterior brain development. How humans interpret face and head features can lead to biased perceptions, including perceived cognitive ability associated with differences across craniofacial phenotypes. In this Opinion Article, we offer strategies to introduce students to an overview of cranial neural crest development linked to primary research in model organisms and in humans. We then bridge this knowledge with a follow-up activity to foster awareness of cognitive processes and implicit bias in human perception. We provide explicit Learning Goals and guided learning strategies to achieve clear Learning Outcomes. We have developed critical thinking assignments and self-reflection opportunities to engage students and shed light on misconceptions regarding craniofacial features. By introducing the generalized processes whereby neural crest cells contribute to head and face formation, we provide an opportunity to focus on bones, brains, and bias in development in order to encourage students to consider how implicit bias shapes human interaction and scientific work.