Laterality for the next decade: Costs and benefits of neuronal asymmetries - putting lateralization in an evolutionary context

Laterality. 2021 May;26(3):315-318. doi: 10.1080/1357650X.2021.1886110. Epub 2021 Feb 15.

Abstract

In my comment on the target article of Ocklenburg et al. [Laterality 2020: Entering the next decade. Laterality, 1-33. doi:10.1080/1357650X.2020.1804396], I point out the relevance of studies in non-human species within natural settings for understanding the ecological pressures, which shape the direction and degree of brain asymmetries. I therefore outline some major research projects, which are not included in the paper of Ocklenburg et al. and which require comparative animal research.

Keywords: Asymmetry; ecology; evolutionary fitness; field study; lateralization.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biological Evolution*
  • Brain
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Functional Laterality*