Asymmetry of brain and behavior in animals: Its development, function, and human relevance

Rogers, Lesley J.

doi:10.1002/dvg.22741

Cited by 115 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 161 publications

(194 reference statements)

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“…In chicks, at least, such early effects of light affect asymmetry in different aspects of visual behaviour than those discussed above [54] (further consideration by Rogers [55]). …”

Section: Genes As the Foundation Experience As The Decidermentioning

confidence: 95%

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

Rogers

Vallortígara

2015

Symmetry

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Asymmetry of brain function is known to be widespread amongst vertebrates, and it seems to have appeared very early in their evolution. In fact, recent evidence of functional asymmetry in invertebrates suggests that even small brains benefit from the allocation of different functions to the left and right sides. This paper discusses the differing functions of the left and right sides of the brain, including the roles of the left and right antennae of bees (several species) in both short-and long-term recall of olfactory memories and in social behaviour. It considers the likely advantages of functional asymmetry in small and large brains and whether functional asymmetry in vertebrates and invertebrates is analogous or homologous. Neural or cognitive capacity can be enhanced both by the evolution of a larger brain and by lateralization of brain function: a possible reason why both processes occur side-by-side is offered.Keywords: brain asymmetry; invertebrates; vertebrates; evolution; memory; social interactions Asymmetry in the Brains of VertebratesDespite its superficial appearance of symmetry, the vertebrate brain is functionally asymmetrical, and there are structural asymmetries in its substructure (e.g., in neuronal connections and neurotransmitters). It has been long known that the left hemisphere of the human brain is specialized to produce speech and process language and that this asymmetry is manifested in structural asymmetry in the planum temporale region of the cortex [1,2]. However, over the last three to four decades, it has become clear that OPEN ACCESS

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“…In chicks, at least, such early effects of light affect asymmetry in different aspects of visual behaviour than those discussed above [54] (further consideration by Rogers [55]). …”

Section: Genes As the Foundation Experience As The Decidermentioning

confidence: 95%

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

Rogers

Vallortígara

2015

Symmetry

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“…Hemispheric asymmetries, i.e., functional and structural differences between the left and the right brain hemisphere, affect behaviour and cognition in all vertebrate classes [1][2][3][4][5]. One of the least well understood asymmetric systems is the one that supports emotion processing [6][7][8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Emotional Valence on Hemispheric Asymmetries in Response Inhibition

et al. 2017

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Hemispheric asymmetries are a major organizational principle in human emotion processing, but their interaction with prefrontal control processes is not well understood. To this end, we determined whether hemispheric differences in response inhibition depend on the emotional valence of the stimulus being inhibited. Participants completed a lateralised Go/Nogo task, in which Nogo stimuli were neutral or emotional (either positive or negative) images, while Go stimuli were scrambled versions of the same pictures. We recorded the N2 and P3 event-related potential (ERP) components, two common electrophysiological measures of response inhibition processes. Behaviourally, participants were more accurate in withholding responses to emotional than to neutral stimuli. Electrophysiologically, Nogo-P3 responses were greater for emotional than for neutral stimuli, an effect driven primarily by an enhanced response to positive images. Hemispheric asymmetries were also observed, with greater Nogo-P3 following left versus right visual field stimuli. However, the visual field effect did not interact with emotion. We therefore find no evidence that emotion-related asymmetries affect response inhibition processes.

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“…In the thalamofugal system, the left-but not the right-sided wulst is able to importantly modify activity patterns of the tectofugal pathway [44]. Thus, both ascending visual pathways are lateralized with a superiority of the right eye and constitute a leading role of the left hemisphere, e.g., in recognizing and categorizing objects [45,46]. This could also be the reason for the normal dominance of the right eye/left hemisphere system in magnetoreception.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It seems possible that changes of asymmetry are easier during early ontogeny and less flexible in adult individuals. Indeed, Lesley Rogers [46,56] pioneered studies on the ontogenetic establishment of visual asymmetries in chicks and could demonstrate that both functional and anatomical lateralized systems can be easily modified in early ontogeny, with a similar effect also observed in young pigeons [57,58]. In Japanese quails, a life-long potential for plasticity has been observed [7].…”

Section: Lasting Flexibility In the Avian Magnetic Compass?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Lateralization of the Avian Magnetic Compass: Analysis of Its Early Plasticity

et al. 2017

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Abstract:In European Robins, Erithacus rubecula, the magnetic compass is lateralized in favor of the right eye/left hemisphere of the brain. This lateralization develops during the first winter and initially shows a great plasticity. During the first spring migration, it can be temporarily removed by covering the right eye. In the present paper, we used the migratory orientation of robins to analyze the circumstances under which the lateralization can be undone. Already a period of 1 1 /2 h being monocularly left-eyed before tests began proved sufficient to restore the ability to use the left eye for orientation, but this effect was rather short-lived, as lateralization recurred again within the next 1 1 /2 h. Interpretable magnetic information mediated by the left eye was necessary for removing the lateralization. In addition, monocularly, the left eye seeing robins could adjust to magnetic intensities outside the normal functional window, but this ability was not transferred to the "right-eye system". Our results make it clear that asymmetry of magnetic compass perception is amenable to short-term changes, depending on lateralized stimulation. This could mean that the left hemispheric dominance for the analysis of magnetic compass information depends on lateralized interhemispheric interactions that in young birds can swiftly be altered by environmental effects.

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Asymmetry of brain and behavior in animals: Its development, function, and human relevance

Cited by 115 publications

References 161 publications

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

When and Why Did Brains Break Symmetry?

Effects of Emotional Valence on Hemispheric Asymmetries in Response Inhibition

Lateralization of the Avian Magnetic Compass: Analysis of Its Early Plasticity

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