Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Cox-Maze IV Procedure Concomitant with Valvular Surgery In Situs Inversus Dextrocardia: A Single-Center Experience in China
Published on: February 11, 2022
Atypical brain functional segregation is more frequent in situs inversus totalis
Guy Vingerhoets1, Robin Gerrits1, Stephanie Bogaert2
1Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Belgium; Ghent Institute for Functional and Metabolic Imaging (GIfMI), Ghent University, Belgium.
Abstract:
Most humans show typical brain functional specialization with language and praxis favoring left hemisphere lateralization and spatial attention and face recognition showing right hemisphere dominance. Lateralization of these cognitive functions was investigated using fMRI in participants with complete visceral reversal and matched control participants. While most participants revealed typical brain organization, atypical functional segregation was significantly more frequent in participants with visceral reversal. Interestingly, some left handers maintained typical functional segregation but showed complete reversal of all cognitive functions regardless of visceral organization. Cognitive performance, as measured with a neuropsychological test battery, was significantly predicted by the degree of atypical functional segregation of praxis and spatial attention. Increased deviation from typical functional segregation paired with lower cognitive performance. The findings suggest that typical functional segregation reflects an optimal evolutionary solution with deviations being associated with reduced cognitive performance.
Related Concept Videos
Law of Segregation
Antipsychotic Drugs: Typical and Atypical Agents
Segregation in Fresh Concrete
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
Higher Mental Functions of the Brain: Language
Language formation and comprehension take place in the dominant hemisphere. The dominant hemisphere is responsible for understanding the meaning of spoken, written, or sign language, as well as the ability to communicate. For most people, the left hemisphere is the dominant one. The right hemisphere, then, gives tone and emotional context to the...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

