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[Dual organization of sensorimotor activity]
Fortschritte Der Neurologie-Psychiatrie
|May 1, 1983
Summary
Bilateral symmetry and coordinated brain hemispheres enable sensorimotor localization. Phylogenetic differentiation led to cerebral hemisphere disjunction, allowing for human actions like speech and thought based on functional asymmetries.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
Context:
- Bilateral symmetry and functional brain hemisphere specialization are fundamental for sensorimotor control.
- Vertebrate sensory systems exhibit decussation, influencing coordinated movements like gait.
- Human motor activity ranges from voluntary to involuntary, distinct from vital movements.
Purpose:
- To explore the evolutionary development of cerebral hemisphere asymmetry and its role in human sensorimotor functions.
- To investigate the concept of 'modules' as invariant elements in sensorimotor brain organization.
- To understand how phylogenetic differentiation enabled functional asymmetries in the human brain.
Summary:
- The study posits that anatomical symmetry and coordinated brain hemispheres are prerequisites for sensorimotor localization, utilizing 'modules' of approximately 2,500 cortical cells.
- It suggests that the decussated nervous systems in vertebrates contribute to rhythmic, axis-coordinated gait.
- Phylogenetic development, particularly in early hominids, led to asymmetric brain halves, resulting in cerebral hemisphere disjunction and enabling distinct 'either/or' actions in humans.
- Functional asymmetries in the human cerebrum are proposed as the basis for complex cognitive functions like speech and thought.
Impact:
- Provides a framework for understanding the evolution of brain lateralization and its impact on human cognition and behavior.
- Highlights the significance of functional asymmetries in the cerebrum for complex human actions.
- Offers insights into the neural underpinnings of voluntary and involuntary motor control.
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