Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-75dct Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-05-29T15:49:38.903Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Forming an asymmetrical brain: Genes, environment, and evolutionarily stable strategies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2005

Giorgio Vallortigara*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and B.R.A.I.N. Centre for Neuroscience, University of Trieste, 34123Trieste, Italyhttp://psico.univ.trieste.it/labs/acn-lab/
Lesley J. Rogers*
Affiliation:
Centre for Neuroscience and Animal Behaviour, School of Biological, Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW2351, Australiahttp://www.sciences.une.edu.au/zoology/lesleyrogers.asp

Abstract

The present response elaborates and defends the main theses advanced in the target article: namely, that in order to provide an evolutionary account of brain lateralization, we should consider advantages and disadvantages associated both with the individual possession of an asymmetrical brain and with the alignment of the direction of lateralization at the population level. We explain why we believe that the hypothesis that directional lateralization evolved as an evolutionarily stable strategy may provide a better account than alternative hypotheses. We also further our discussion of the influence of stimulation and experience in early life on lateralization, and thereby show that our hypothesis is not deterministic. We also consider some novel data and ideas in support of our main thesis.

Type
Authors' Response
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)
PDF 814.8 KB