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08:19
Asymmetric Walkway: A Novel Behavioral Assay for Studying Asymmetric Locomotion
Published on: January 15, 2016
Experience-dependent emergence of functional asymmetries
Elena Nava1, Onur Güntürkün, Brigitte Röder
1Biological Psychology and Neuropsychology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany. elena.nava@uni-hamburg.de
Laterality
|July 4, 2012
Summary
Congenital blindness alters head-turning preference, showing a leftward bias instead of the typical rightward. Despite this, individuals still exhibit right-handedness, challenging visual experience
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Human Motor Control
Background:
- Right head-turning preference is considered a developmental default in humans.
- This motor asymmetry is thought to influence other lateralized behaviors, like handedness, via visual orientation to the right.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of visual experience in the development of lateralized functions.
- To assess head-turning preference and handedness in individuals with congenital blindness.
Main Methods:
- Assessed head-turning preference in a group of congenitally blind adults.
- Evaluated handedness in the same group of participants.
Main Results:
- Congenitally blind adults showed a left-side preference for head turning.
- The same individuals demonstrated clear right-handedness.
- An asymmetric relationship between head-turning preference and handedness was observed.
Conclusions:
- Absence of visual experience can modify typical head-turning preferences.
- Handedness can develop independently of visual orientation towards the right side.
- Functional asymmetries in humans are shaped by factors beyond visual sensory input and simple genetic or environmental models.
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