This volume explores both simple and sophisticated techniques used in the study of different types of lateralization of brain and behavior. Research in this field increases our understanding of various brain functions in humans, other vertebrate species, and invertebrates. The book is divided into five parts: behavioral methods; neurobiological methods; electroencephalographic, imaging, and neuro-stimulation methods; genetic techniques; and development of lateralization. Part I addresses measuring lateralization by scoring behavior induced by inputs to one or the other side of the brain in a range of species. Part II covers neurobiological methods used to reveal lateralization, such as lesion studies, electrophysiology and pharmacology, early gene expression, and new optogenetic methods. Part III looks at imaging techniques, electroencephalographic techniques, and transcranial stimulation to reveal lateralization. Part IV describes techniques used to study the role of genes in the development and establishment of brain asymmetry in humans and other species. Lastly, Part V refers to methods used in the study of development of lateralization through the manipulation of sensory exposure, hormone levels, and in model systems. In Neuromethods series style, chapters include the kind of detail and key advice from the specialists needed to get successful results in your own laboratory. Cutting-edge and thorough, Lateralized Brain Function: Methods in Human and Non-Human Species is a valuable resource for investigating lateralization in a broad range of species and provides excellent advice for both new and veteran researchers.

Laterality in Sports: Theories and Applications summarizes recent research on the neurophysiological foundations of handedness, and how left or right lateralization (affecting primary hand use, foot use, and eye use) affects motor control, performance outcome, skill acquisition, and achievement of sports expertise—both for one-on-one sports and team sports. As laterality research has matured, greater focus has been given to applications in human endeavours and, in particular, sport. The book examines performance within individual sports, and discusses the coaching ramifications of coaching to a specific lateralization preference. - Describes the neurophysiological foundations of handedness - Discusses the origins and development of laterality in humans - Summarizes the impact of laterality on motor control and sports performance - Encompasses research on both individual and team sports - Includes research on skill acquisition, coaching, and development of expertise - Covers research on laterality in preferred hand, foot, and eye use in sports

Human Laterality presents the main facts of human laterality as they are known. Drawing on evidence from normal, intact human beings and neurological patients, along with material on asymmetries in other species, this book traces the development of laterality, its evolution, and inheritance. This text also reviews the literature on the relation between laterality and developmental disorders of speech and language, including dyslexia, stuttering, and dysphasia. This book is organized into nine chapters and begins with an overview of the development of knowledge and ideas about laterality over the course of history. This text gives an account of the myths that abound regarding handedness, including the association of right with male and left with female, with the goal of demythologizing human laterality. It argues that there is a common basis to both handedness and cerebral lateralization, and indeed to other manifestations of human laterality such as eyedness and footedness, and that lateralization is fundamentally biological rather than sociocultural. Human laterality is also seen as an innate disposition rather than a matter of learning or imitation. In the final chapter, this book speculates about the possible origins of laterality in the fundamental asymmetries of living molecules and of particle physics. This book is essential reading for biologists and researchers interested in the human anatomy.

This book explores afresh the long-standing interest, and emphasis on, the `special' capacities of primates. Some of the recent discoveries of the higher cognitive abilities of other mammals and also birds challenge the concept that primates are special and even the view that the cognitive ability of apes is more advanced than that of nonprimate mammals and birds. It is therefore timely to ask whether primates are, in fact, special and to do so from a broad range of perspectives. Divided into five sections this book deals with topics about higher cognition and how it is manifested in different species, and also considers aspects of brain structure that might be associated with complex behavior.

Laterality: Functional Asymmetry in the Intact Brain focuses on brain function and laterality as well as the various methods in assessing behavioral asymmetries, including handedness. It reviews the literature on perceptual-cognitive laterality effects in different sensory modalities, the lateralization of emotion and motor behavior, and the electrophysiological evidence. It also highlights some of the problems with the existing research and offers suggestions about the direction of future research. Organized into 17 chapters, this volume begins with an overview of cerebral asymmetry and the origins and mechanisms of lateralization. Then, it discusses the individual differences in laterality, methods and measurement used in laterality studies, and experiments on dichotic listening and auditory lateralization. The next chapters focus on the link between verbal laterality and handedness, tactual and perceptual laterality, asymmetry of motor performance, lateralization of emotional processes, and physiological measures of asymmetry. The book also introduces the handedness and its relation to cerebral function, genetics of laterality, development of cerebral lateralization, individual differences in cerebral organization, sex differences in laterality, reading- and language-related deficits, and control of the active hemisphere before concluding with a chapter discussing the experimental or strategy effects, the concept of complementary specialization, and the dichotomy between the two hemispheres of the brain. This book is a valuable resource for neuropsychologists, experimental psychologists, neurologists, and educators interested in understanding human brain function.

The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries is an up-to-date teaching resource for neuroscience faculty members that teach courses concerning hemispheric asymmetries. The book provides students with all relevant information on the subject, while also giving aspiring researchers in the field an up-to-date overview of relevant, previous work. It is ideal for courses on hemispheric asymmetries, that is, the functional or structural differences between the left and the right hemispheres of the brain, and also highlights how the widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI and DTI has completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated. According to the preface, the main aim of The Lateralized Brain is to provide "an up-to-date teaching resource on hemispheric asymmetries ... [and] to introduce undergraduate students of all levels to the fascinating topics of hemispheric asymmetries" (p. xv)... (Sebastian Ocklenburg and Onur Güntürkün) have succeeded admirably in their stated aim and are to be congratulated on undertaking the mammoth task they set themselves. They can be proud of what they have accomplished.~ Alan A. Beaton, Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, UK, in Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition, July, 2018. - Includes references to key articles, books, protocols and online resources for additional, detailed study - Presents classic studies that helped define the field - Covers key concepts and methods that are explained in separate call out boxes for quick overview - Provides introductory short stories (e.g. classic clinical cases) as a starting point for each chapter

Left-handedness has been connected to many different conditions, traits, and abilities. This is especially true for pathological syndromes, such as schizophrenia, along with learning disabilities and autism. The published research on handedness is vast and frequently contradictory, often raising more questions than providing answers. Questions such as: - Is handedness genetic? - Can handedness be changed? - Are there consequences to training someone to switch handedness? - Are there positive traits associated with left-handedness like creativity? - Are there negative traits associated with left-handedness like trouble reading maps? - Is it abnormal to do some things right-handed and other things left-handed? - Are the brains of left-handers different from the brains of right-handers? Laterality: Exploring the Enigma of Left-Handedness examines the research conducted over the past 50 years with special emphasis on twenty-first century research on handedness and translates this literature into an accessible and readable form. Each chapter is based on a question or questions covering diverse topics such as genetic and biological origins of handedness, familial and hormonal influences on handedness, and the effects of a majority right-handed world on the behaviors of left-handers. - Summarizes scientific research on laterality - Separates fact from fiction in common beliefs about laterality - Includes illustrative interviews with left-handers

Asymmetry of the brain and behaviour (lateralization) has traditionally been considered unique to humans. However, research has shown that this phenomenon is widespread throughout the vertebrate kingdom and found even in some invertebrate species. A similar basic plan of organisation exists across vertebrates. Summarising the evidence and highlighting research from the last twenty years, the authors discuss lateralization from four perspectives - function, evolution, development and causation - covering a wide range of animals, including humans. The evolution of lateralization is traced from our earliest ancestors, through fish and reptiles to birds and mammals. The benefits of having a divided brain are discussed, as well as the influence of experience on its development. A final chapter discusses outstanding problems and areas for further investigation. Experts in this field, the authors present the latest scientific knowledge clearly and engagingly, making this a valuable tool for anyone interested in the biology and behaviour of brain asymmetries.

McManus considers evidence from anthropology, particle physics, the history of medicine, and the notebooks of Leonardo to answer questions like: Why are most people right-handed? Why does European writing go from left to right, while Arabic and Hebrew go from right to left? And how do we know that Jack the Ripper was left-handed?

Brain asymmetry for speech is moderately related to handedness but what are the rules? Are symmetries for hand and brain associated with characteristics such as intelligence, motor skill, spatial reasoning or skill at sports? In this follow up to the influential Left, Right Hand and Brain (1985) Marian Annett draws on a working lifetime of research to help provide answers to crucial questions. Central to her argument is the Right Shift Theory - her original and innovative contribution to the field that seeks to explain the relationships between left-and right-handedness and left-and right-brain specialisation. The theory proposes that handedness in humans and our non-human primate relations depends on chance but that chance is weighted towards right-handedness in most people by an agent of right-hemisphere disadvantage. It argues for the existence of a single gene for right shift (RS+) that evolved in humans to aid the growth of speech in the left hemisphere of the brain. The Right Shift Theory has possible implications for a wide range of questions about human abilities and disabilities, including verbal and non verbal intelligence, educational progress and dyslexia, spatial reasoning, sporting skills and mental illness. It continues to be at the cutting edge of research, solving problems and generating new avenues of investigation - most recently the surprising idea that a mutant RS+ gene might be involved in the causes of schizophrenia and autism. Handedness and Brain Asymmetry will make fascinating reading for students and researchers in psychology and neurology, educationalists, and anyone with a keen interest in why people have different talents and weaknesses.