Cerebral and Motor Lateralization
3rd August 2016, University of Exeter
Organisers
Dr Elisa Frasnelli
Dr Frasnelli has been studying brain and behavioural asymmetries in different species of insects. Dr Elisa Frasnelli, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, CRAB, Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, UK E-mail: e.frasnelli@exeter.ac.uk |
Dr Gillian Forrester
Dr Forrester is an expert in lateralization in primates (gorillas and chimpanzees) and its development in children and human adults. Dr Gillian Forrester, Senior Lecturer, Psychology & Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Westminster, UK E-mail: g.forrester@westminster.ac.uk |
Symposium Overview
Brain and behavioural lateralization (i.e. the different functional specialization of the right and left parts of the brain) have traditionally been considered a uniquely human characteristic, subserving handedness and linguistic functions. Over the past four decades, research in behavioural ecology, comparative psychology, neuroscience, and developmental biology has demonstrated that lateralization is a widespread phenomenon among vertebrates. Cerebral lateralization is not only restricted to limb preference, but can also manifest as functional side biases in other motor behaviour (e.g. approach and avoidance) and in sensory perception (e.g. detecting visual stimuli). Having a lateralized brain confers several advantages, such as: (1) avoiding competition between the hemispheres in their control of behaviour, (2) using neuronal tissue efficiently by avoiding the duplication of functions and (3) enabling separate and parallel processing to increase processing power and speed. Cerebral lateralization is thought to enhance cognition so that humans and vertebrate animals can display flexible behaviour and solve complex problems.
Research on lateralization of brain and behaviour in animals has expanded rapidly over the past two decades and continues to grow exponentially. Cerebral and Motor Lateralization is a symposium on laterality within an evolutionary framework. Internationally recognised experts, as well as students and early-careers researchers will exchange ideas on this fascinating topic. The symposium addresses the widening interest in the subject and aims to present the most up-to-date information among the scientific community of behavioural ecology.
Research on lateralization of brain and behaviour in animals has expanded rapidly over the past two decades and continues to grow exponentially. Cerebral and Motor Lateralization is a symposium on laterality within an evolutionary framework. Internationally recognised experts, as well as students and early-careers researchers will exchange ideas on this fascinating topic. The symposium addresses the widening interest in the subject and aims to present the most up-to-date information among the scientific community of behavioural ecology.