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Possible evolutionary origins of cognitive brain lateralization
G Vallortigara1, L J Rogers, A Bisazza
1Department of Psychology, Animal Cognition and Comparative Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Trieste, Via dell'Università 7, 34123, Trieste, Italy.
Brain Research. Brain Research Reviews
|October 19, 1999
Summary
Cerebral asymmetries, or brain lateralization, are widespread across vertebrates. New animal models reveal genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors influencing these asymmetries, offering insights into their evolutionary origins.
Area of Science:
- Comparative Cognitive Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Neurobiology
Background:
- Over 130 years of research on human brain asymmetries exists, yet biological foundations remain unclear.
- Recent advances in comparative cognitive neurosciences utilize novel animal models to study brain asymmetries.
- Cerebral asymmetries are fundamental to brain function, with implications across the vertebrate lineage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the evolutionary origins and neuronal mechanisms of cerebral asymmetries using animal models.
- To investigate the interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors in neural and behavioral asymmetries.
- To trace the origins of brain asymmetry back to early vertebrates and understand its fundamental role.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of brain lateralization across diverse vertebrate species (fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals).
- Examination of perceptual asymmetries in relation to visual field characteristics and eye placement.
- Hypothesis-driven investigation into the role of functional incompatibility in basic cognitive functions for lateralization.
Main Results:
- Functional and structural brain lateralization is prevalent across vertebrates.
- Perceptual asymmetries are common in animals with laterally placed eyes and retained in specific visual fields for organisms with wider binocular overlap.
- Animal models, particularly avian brains, demonstrate the integration of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors in producing asymmetries.
Conclusions:
- Animal models provide crucial insights into the evolutionary and neuronal underpinnings of brain asymmetries.
- Head and eye movement adjustments in mammals may parallel lateral visual field choices in other vertebrates.
- Functional incompatibility in basic cognitive processes is hypothesized as a central driver for cerebral lateralization in early vertebrates.