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Evolution and development of handedness: An Evo-Devo approach
George F Michel1, Iryna Babik2, Eliza L Nelson3
1Psychology Department, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United States.
Progress in Brain Research
|August 12, 2018
Summary
Human handedness and brain lateralization are evolving. The Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) and Evo-Devo offer new frameworks for studying how hand preference develops and its relation to cognitive functions.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Human evolution
Background:
- Hand preference is a sensorimotor skill linked to hemispheric lateralization for manual and cognitive functions.
- Evidence shows limb lateralization across species and right-handedness in human evolution.
- Traditional evolutionary accounts of handedness are challenged by the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) and Evo-Devo.
Purpose of the Study:
- To contrast the Extended Evolutionary Synthesis (EES) with the conventional Synthetic Theory (ST) in understanding trait development.
- To apply Evo-Devo principles to infant handedness development and its cognitive correlates.
- To advocate for new study designs incorporating developmental trajectories for understanding atypical traits.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of evolutionary theories (EES vs. ST).
- Application of Evo-Devo to infant hand preference and cognitive development.
- Focus on developmental trajectories and individual differences.
Main Results:
- EES/Evo-Devo necessitates novel study designs for lateralization and handedness.
- Understanding developmental trajectories is crucial for linking hand preference to cognitive functions.
- Individual differences in typical development inform the study of atypical traits.
Conclusions:
- Past evolutionary accounts of handedness are insufficient under EES/Evo-Devo.
- New research must integrate developmental trajectories of multiple traits.
- Studying typical hand-use preference variations aids in understanding atypical development.
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