Physiological Reviews Review Article

BRAIN LATERALIZATION: A COMPARATIVE

PERSPECTIVE
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT AUTHORS
Onur Güntürkün, Felix Ströckens, and
Sebastian Ocklenburg

CORRESPONDENCE
[email protected]

KEYWORDS
birds; cerebral asymmetry; commissures;
evolution; language; nodal; zebrafish

CLINICAL HIGHLIGHTS
Brain asymmetries are key components of sensory, cognitive,
and motor systems of humans and other animals. This review
tracks their development from embryological asymmetries of
genetic expression patterns up to left-right differences of neural
networks in adults. These insights are crucial to understand
pathologies of the lateralized human brain.

Güntürkün et al., 2020, Physiol Rev 100: 1019 –1063

April 1, 2020; © 2020 the American Physiological Society
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 Physiol Rev 100: 1019 –1063, 2020
Published April 1, 2020; doi:10.1152/physrev.00006.2019

BRAIN LATERALIZATION: A COMPARATIVE

PERSPECTIVE
Onur Güntürkün, Felix Ströckens, and Sebastian Ocklenburg

Department of Biopsychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany

Güntürkün O, Ströckens F, Ocklenburg S. Brain Lateralization: A Comparative Perspective.

Physiol Rev 100: 1019 –1063, 2020. Published April 1, 2020; doi:10.1152/physrev.00006.
2019.—Comparative studies on brain asymmetry date back to the 19th century but then largely
disappeared due to the assumption that lateralization is uniquely human. Since the reemergence of
this field in the 1970s, we learned that left-right differences of brain and behavior exist throughout
the animal kingdom and pay off in terms of sensory, cognitive, and motor efficiency. Ontogenetically,
lateralization starts in many species with asymmetrical expression patterns of genes within the
Nodal cascade that set up the scene for later complex interactions of genetic, environmental, and
epigenetic factors. These take effect during different time points of ontogeny and create asymme-
tries of neural networks in diverse species. As a result, depending on task demands, left- or
right-hemispheric loops of feedforward or feedback projections are then activated and can tempo-
rarily dominate a neural process. In addition, asymmetries of commissural transfer can shape
lateralized processes in each hemisphere. It is still unclear if interhemispheric interactions depend
on an inhibition/excitation dichotomy or instead adjust the contralateral temporal neural structure
to delay the other hemisphere or synchronize with it during joint action. As outlined in our review,
novel animal models and approaches could be established in the last decades, and they already
produced a substantial increase of knowledge. Since there is practically no realm of human
perception, cognition, emotion, or action that is not affected by our lateralized neural organization,
insights from these comparative studies are crucial to understand the functions and pathologies of
our asymmetric brain.

birds; cerebral asymmetry; commissures; evolution; language; nodal; zebrafish

I. INTRODUCTION: HISTORY OF... 1019 ulty of spoken language to the Société d’anthropologie in Paris
II. HOW ASYMMETRIES EMERGE 1028 (60). His presentation summarized his work of the last five
III. THE LATERALIZED BRAIN... 1034 years in which he first analyzed speech deficits of patients to
IV. HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRIES... 1037 then meticulously reconstruct the damaged parts of their
V. ASYMMETRIES IN EMOTIONAL... 1044 brains. His paper ended with the famous statement “Nous
VI. SUMMARY 1050 parlons avec l’hémisphère gauche” (“We speak with the left
hemisphere,” Broca, 1865, p. 384). The insights provided
on this afternoon forever demolished two central scientific
dogmata of 19th century, made Broca immortal, and
Brain asymmetries are key components of sensory, cognitive, marked the onset of cerebral asymmetry research. But the
and motor systems of humans and other animals. This review scientific events that unfolded around this time in France are
tracks their development from embryological asymmetries of
not only a testimony of the past, but are responsible for the
genetic expression patterns up to left-right differences of neural
networks in adults. These insights are crucial to understand century-long neglect of the comparative perspective of
pathologies of the lateralized human brain. brain asymmetries, the limited number of animal models in
this field, and our consequential lack of in-depth knowledge
on the neurobiological foundations of cerebral left-right
I. INTRODUCTION: HISTORY OF differences.
COMPARATIVE RESEARCH ON
LATERALIZATION B. Scientific Dogmata that Blocked the Path

A. Broca’s Discovery and Its Consequences The most important neuroscientific dispute of the first half
of the 19th century concerned the question whether the
On Thursday, June 15, 1865, the young physician Pierre Paul cortex can be subdivided into functional entities or is orga-
Broca (1824 –1880) delivered his paper on the seat of the fac- nized as a holistic structure in which each part serves all

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

mental functions (204). The person who strongly advocated tions of the dorsal and ventral horns of the spinal cord
a functional topography of the cortex was Franz Joseph (300). Later on, he also studied motor functions of the
Gall (1758 –1828), a German neuroanatomist who fasci- cerebellum and the basal ganglia (301, 302). Additionally,
nated lay people throughout Europe but was dismissed as a other early animal researchers discovered that the cerebel-
charlatan by his fellow scientists. Gall had observed that lum was a key structure in the production of organized
several colleagues with high verbosity and an excellent movement patterns (135, 416). However, all of these dis-
memory for text passages had protuberant and baggy eyes. coveries on functional topographies were related to subcor-
Being an excellent neuroanatomist, he knew that large in- tical structures. The key concern of scientists of the early
dividual differences of brain shape and size exist. Thus he 19th century, however, was the cortex. And here, the con-
assumed that these people had especially enlarged retro- clusion of Flourens that no cortical functional subdivisions
and supraorbital cortical areas that pushed the eyeballs to exist was readily accepted by the majority of scientists, and
the front and down. From this hypothesis it was only a soon the holistic functional nature of the cortex became a
small step to conclude that the seat of language faculties had scientific dogma.
to be located in the frontal lobes in an area surrounding the
eye sockets. Consequently, he thought that we should be Clinical scientists, however, objected. One of them was
able to discover the seat of further functions by tracking Jean-Baptiste Bouillaud (1796 –1881) who later on became
bulging spots on the uneven surface of the cortex of people president of the French Académie de Médecine. Bouillaud
with exaggerated mental abilities or characters. Gall further argued that clinicians often observe specific motor or sen-
assumed that it would suffice to analyze the landscape of the sory deficits in patients with circumscribed brain lesions.
skull since it should reflect the shape of the underlying cor- So, there must be a cortical functional map. Although Bouil-
tex (153). Armed with this theory, he analyzed the heads of laud was fully aware how much the ideas of Gall were
great poets, spirituals leaders, cruel murderers, and many dismissed in the scientific community, he defended the idea
more to come up with the cortical localization of 26 mental of the frontal seat of language based on large numbers of
faculties like vanity, courage, mercy, etc. Accompanied by carefully conducted patient studies (45). Several colleagues
his assistant Johann Spurzheim, a servant, two monkeys, countered Bouillaud’s arguments by reporting a phasic pa-
numerous skulls, and colored plaster casts, he then started tient with lesions in temporal or parietal areas or cases with
on a hugely successful tour through the public lecture halls frontal lesions without language problems (277). One core
of Europe and convinced many people of his idea of “phre- problem of this time was a lack of awareness that expressive
nology” (277). Scientists of his time, however, were out- and receptive language problems should be distinguished
raged by his poor conclusions and soon (and since then) and are differently localized. Only much later, Carl Wer-
phrenology became a catchword for a sloppy way to map nicke (1884 –1905) could clarify this issue by disambiguat-
cortical functions. This quick and negative response made it ing between what is now called Wernicke’s and Broca’s area
later difficult to realize that Gall could have been right, but (506). A further problem was the unawareness of language
for the wrong reasons. asymmetry. As reconstructed a century later, most of the
reports on negative cases that were thrown against Bouil-
The main counterargument to Gall was put forward by the laud had had right hemisphere lesions (32).
young anatomist Marie-Jean-Pierre Flourens (1794 –1867)
who conducted careful lesion experiments with pigeons and The second, equally important dogma of this time relates to
many more animal species. After ablating diverse regions of the belief that healthy organisms have symmetrical organs.
the forebrain of his subjects, he concluded that no specific This assumption was forcefully established by Marie Fran-
function was lost, irrespective of where a small lesion was çois Xavier Bichat (1771–1802) who became a tragic and at
placed. If the lesions grew larger, however, the animals the same time towering figure in the medical sciences. When
increasingly lost their abilities to sense or to initiate move- just in his mid 20s, Bichat became aware that he soon would
ments by their own will. But when nudged, they still were die of tuberculosis. As a consequence, he started to work at
able to walk a few steps or fly a short path without any a frantic pace to finalize his monumental book on the phys-
problem (135). Flourens concluded that the cerebral hemi- iological studies of life and death (36). Tragically, Bichat
sphere must be the area where all senses are integrated and did not die from tuberculosis but from a sepsis that resulted
from where higher mental functions emerge. These hemi- from an autopsy that he had conducted during this period.
spheres were, however, not arranged as a map of separate Using the argument of homeostasis of all physiological
functions but as holistic chambers where all processes inter- functions and their redundant circuits, Bichat concluded
twine. that the symmetry of all bodily organs is the core principle
of life since this ensures that they can reciprocally supple-
Parallel to Flourens, François Magendie (1783–1855) also ment each other. His core example for symmetry was the
had conducted animal experiments to reveal organizational human brain. He described it as perfectly symmetrical in all
principles of the central nervous system. During experi- of its entities. Also the uneven parts like the corpus callosum
ments with dogs, he thereby discovered the different func- were described by him as symmetrically embedded into the

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telencephalic tissue. Obviously, Bichat was well aware of let (FIGURE 1B) published a ground-breaking comparative
the existence of handedness, but he saw this as a mere social book on the organization of the cortex of mammals includ-
habit since the arms and hands of people were, in his view, ing humans (286, 287). The authors aimed for a reconstruc-
perfectly symmetrical. tion of the evolution of cognition as remodeled from com-
parative analyses of the cortical organization. Based on a
Bichat’s legacy was extremely influential and even affected much larger database, Leurat and Gratiolet verified the ob-
the interpretation of studies on face asymmetries up the first servations of Treviranus that the cortical folding pattern
half of the 20th century (179). However, scientists had nev- became more irregular and increasingly asymmetric with
ertheless collected comparative evidence against Bichat’s phylogenetic proximity to humans. In addition, the authors
dogma in the period before Broca. Already in 1820, Gott- observed that in primates the left cortex developed faster
fried Reinhold Treviranus (1776 –1837, FIGURE 1A) de- than the right. It was especially Louis Pierre Gratiolet
scribed for the first time conspicuous asymmetries of the (1815–1865) (FIGURE 1B) who repeatedly stressed that it is
human cortex: “Humans have multitude and deep convo- the left frontal cortex that is in advance [an idea that is
lutions that are asymmetrically organized in the two hemi- disputed today (80)]. This finding was later discussed as a
spheres. This is different from the cortex of monkeys” causal ontogenetic explanation for asymmetries like hand-
(470). edness or language (204, 310). The conclusion of the sum of
these findings was radical: while asymmetries had always
Similarly, Magendie (302) discussed just 4 years later in his been seen as evidence for pathology and malfunction (220,
comparative account on the brain that cortical folding pat- 294, 343), comparative evidence suggested that it was a
terns are asymmetrically organized and that it would be hallmark of cognitive advance and reached its apex in hu-
interesting to know if these individual morphological dis- mans. This conclusion became increasingly important after
positions are related to the idiosyncrasies of the mind. Soon Broca’s discoveries on language asymmetry. In short, they
thereafter, these ideas became grounded on further solid implied that asymmetries of brain and function are either
evidence. In 1839, François Leurat and Louis Pierre Gratio- unique to humans or were at least most advanced in our

FIGURE 1. Pioneers of comparative cerebral asymmetry research of the 19th and the 20th century. A:
Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus (1776 –1837) was a German medical physician and scientist who coined the
term life sciences. He was the first to describe the asymmetries of the cortical folding pattern and observed
that asymmetry seemed to increase with phylogenetic proximity to humans. B: Louis Pierre Gratiolet (1815–
1865) was a French anatomist and zoologist who published together with François Leurat a ground-breaking
book on the pattern of the cortex, thereby confirming Treviranus’ observations. Subsequently, he demon-
strated that the left hemisphere develops faster and speculated about functional left-right differences that
could result from this ontogenetic difference. (Photo courtesy of Wellcome Collection, CC BY 4.0.) C: Fernando
Nottebohm (1940) is an Argentinian/American neuroscientist who discovered fundamental principles of the
song system in songbirds like its ontogenetic learning principles, the relevant neural pathways, adult neuro-
genesis, and its motor asymmetry. (Photo courtesy of Zach Veilleux, The Rockefeller University.) D: Lesley
Rogers (1943) is an Australian neuroscientist who discovered functional brain asymmetries in chicks and
several further species. She also revealed the environmental and hormonal components that shape cerebral
asymmetries in early ontogeny in birds. (Photo courtesy of Lesley Rogers and Gisela Kaplan.)

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

species. This conclusion importantly slowed down progress ent mammalian species (286, 287). Further reports fol-
in comparative asymmetry research and resulted in a cen- lowed like that of Cunningham (92) and Henschen (221)
tury-long absence of animal models for left-right differences who observed that the anteroposterior extent of the cortex
of the brain. of several ape and monkey species is larger on the left.
Cunningham (1892) also observed that similar to humans,
the posterior angle of the Sylvian fissure shows a conspicu-
C. 1865–1990s: Broca’s Discovery and the ous left-right difference (92). Ingalls (1914) (244) con-
Belief of Human Uniqueness ducted an anatomical survey in different monkey species
and reported visible differences in the cortical organization
In 1861, at the hospital Bicètre of Paris, Pierre Paul Broca that surrounded the Sylvian fissure. None of these descrip-
analyzed a patient named Leborgne who only could utter a tions on cortical asymmetries in non-human primates
few words but was able to understand spoken questions. stirred major scientific interest. Since all discovered left-
When Leborgne died a few days later, Broca conducted the right differences were rather small and since no behavioral
autopsy and revealed a lesion in the third part of the inferior correlate could be found, they bolstered the view of Leurat
frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere. He presented this case and Gratiolet that a strongly lateralized brain is a defining
at the Société d’anthropologie to support Bouillaud’s claim feature of humans and that asymmetries in non-human pri-
of the frontal seat of language (58). Soon, Broca encoun- mates constitute weaker, less advanced forms of lateraliza-
tered another patient with similar language problems, and tion.
this autopsy also revealed a lesion at the identical location.
Broca was tantalized by the identity of the two lesion loca- This view slowly started to vanish in the second half of the
tions but was too cautious to make a point out of it. Instead,
20th century when the first behavioral evidence on behav-
he again referred in an overall way to the frontal lobes as
ioral communication asymmetries in non-human primates
being relevant for language processes (57). Broca now
was collected. Dewson (1977) (108) demonstrated that in
started to collect further evidence from his own ward or
macaques lesions of the left temporal cortex reduced the
from the literature (59). Then, in 1865, he presented a large
ability to discriminate auditory input, while the effect of
number of meticulously analyzed cases to the members of
right-temporal lesions were minor. Moving a step further,
the Société d’anthropologie (60). All of them had lesions in
Petersen et al. (1978) (368) showed that communicative
a cortical region that now bears his name and all suffered
auditory signals are better discriminated with the right than
from severe deficits in speech production. Different from
with the left ear. At the same time, interest on anatomical
other scientists of his time, Broca carefully avoided to as-
asymmetries in non-human primates went through a re-
sume that the third component of the inferior frontal gyrus
on the left hemisphere was the “seat of language” since vival. LeMay and Geschwind (1975) (281) measured the
these patients could understand language but had lost their height of the posterior end point of the Sylvian fissure in the
ability to produce it. In a single step, Broca demolished the brains of 30 monkeys from 8 different species including
dogmata of the holistic and of the symmetrical brain. capuchin monkeys, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, ba-
boons, macaques, black apes, leaf monkeys, and proboscis
After these events, it was only a small logical step to ask if monkeys. They also measured the height of the posterior
similar properties exist in non-human animals. Since Broca end point of the Sylvian fissure in the brains of 39 apes from
had discovered language asymmetry in humans, numerous 5 different species, including gibbons, siamangs, orang-
scientists started to search for similar left-right differences utans, chimpanzees, and gorillas. They found that in mon-
in animals in the subsequent years. The problem was an keys and lesser apes, asymmetries were quite uncommon,
obvious one: many animals communicate but only humans with only 3 of 41 brains showing a rightward asymmetry of
have language. However, parrots can at least learn to copy the Sylvian fissure. In contrast, out of 28 great ape brains,
human speech. Otto Kalischer (1869 –1942) bought 60 par- 17 showed a significant asymmetry, with 16 of these brains
rots from a colonial store in Berlin and taught these birds to having a higher right Sylvian fissure. Similar findings were
utter typical human phrases. Subsequently, he lesioned dif- subsequently reported from different laboratories (125,
ferent parts of their brains uni- or bilaterally. Indeed, some 216, 433).
lesions affected the vocalization of the animals, but there
was no systematic hemispheric asymmetry visible (255). Yeni-Komshian and Benson (1976) (522) analyzed the
For a very long time, this was the end of an animal-research- length of the Sylvian fissure in chimpanzees and demon-
based search for vocalization asymmetries at the functional strated that in the brains of 20 of 25 chimps, the fissure was
level. longer on the left. A similar analysis of 25 macaque brains
evinced no such asymmetry. Beheim-Schwarzbach (1975)
At the anatomical level, several neuroanatomists started to (29) compared the cytoarchitectonic organization of the
look for cortical asymmetries that resemble the human con- dorsal surface of the temporal lobe of a person who could
dition. As mentioned above, Leurat and Gratiolet had al- speak 100 languages with that of a chimpanzee. She dem-
ready reported some minor cortical asymmetries in differ- onstrated that the inter-species differences were smaller

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

than the interhemispheric ones since in both species the left population level asymmetry (124, 130, 175, 207, 292, 392,
cytoarchitectonic organization was far more complex. 490, 523). All of these studies suffered from a very small
Overall, these data make it likely that functional and ana- sample size and were thus seriously underpowered. How-
tomical asymmetries of communicative systems occur in the ever, also studies with sample sizes of more than 40 indi-
family of Hominidae, to which both apes and humans be- viduals did not observe a different pattern (15, 56, 128).
long (374). Studies with macaques were partly conducted with a higher
number of individuals. Itani et al. (1963) (245) observed
Scientists of the 19th and early 20th century were well food reaching behavior in 394 monkeys and observed a
aware that the most glaring example of human lateraliza- right hand preference in 118 (30.0%) and a left hand pref-
tion was handedness. Although no proper neural correlate erence in 149 (37.8%); 127 (32.2%) evinced no individual
could be discovered, it was nevertheless tempting to look asymmetries. Subsequent studies using a reaching task
out for comparisons in non-human animals. Because reach- evinced similar conclusions (279, 503). Hörster and Et-
ing and scratching movements are easy to observe and tlinger (1985) (234) trained 237 macaques in a tactile dis-
quantify, most studies reported these simple behavioral crimination task and observed which hand the animals
bouts. However, these authors ignored that in humans sim- used. Overall, 77 (32.5%) animals were right-handed and
ple reaching elicits only small handedness effects, not com- 78 (32.9%) were left-handed, while 82 (34.6%) used both
parable to what can be seen for complex fine motor tasks hands about equally. In total, these studies studied 886
like writing (308). macaques. Obviously, each study varied from the other.
What did not vary, though, was that left-handed, right-
The first such systematic observation was conducted by handed, and ambidextrous animals had proportions of
Ogle (1871) (362), who observed 86 parrots in the zoo of about one-third each. These results were sobering. Conse-
London and reported that nearly three-fourths of them had quently, Richard Jung’s skeptical phrase provides a concise
a left foot preference while holding or rotating a food item. summary of its time: “Thus, I think that we must distin-
Unfortunately, Ogle (362) did not provide any information guish between the preference for one hand in animals, and
on the observed species, reducing the impact of his obser- the dominance of one side of the brain in man. As I said, no
vation. Of even lesser scientific value was the report of evidence whatsoever has been presented that cerebral dom-
Thomas Dwight who made similar observations in the same inance really occurs in monkeys” (253).
zoological garden (115). He stated, “I had satisfied myself
that every parrot had a favorite side.” To summarize, despite several attempts, the discovery of
human brain asymmetry was not followed by a surge of
Unfortunately, he then continued, “. . . I have forgotten similar findings in non-human animals. Four major reasons
which side was used the most” (1891, S. 466; cited from seem to be responsible for an absence of such a develop-
Ref. 205). ment. First, the legacy of Leurat and Gratiolet sketched a
theoretical frame in which asymmetries were mainly tied to
The first well-documented scientific study on parrot footed- the human brain and were, if at all, only expected in lesser
ness was published by Friedman and Davies (1938) (149) magnitude in non-human primates. Second, human asym-
and later by Rogers (1980) (402) who revealed a significant metries were seen as related to language and handedness,
left-footed population level asymmetry for food holding in two behavioral systems that have no counterpart in the
14 and a right-footed asymmetry in only 2 parrot species. animal world. There is no doubt that language is unique,
Similarly, significant left-footedness was also reported in but so is also our extraordinary dexterity that grants our
goldfinches in a task in which they had to manipulate flaps ability to write, draw, and manipulate minute technical sys-
to obtain a food reward (113). For rodents, the first tems. Third, the limited left-right differences that had been
pawedness study was conducted by Tsai and Maurer (1930) discovered in primates were not convincing enough to es-
(471), shortly thereafter followed by a similar study by tablish an animal model of brain asymmetry. The same
Peterson (1934) (369). Both papers described a mild pref- applied to the results in rodents. The findings in birds were
erence for the right paw during reaching. In mice, Collins stronger but went unnoticed by most scientists. Fourth, be-
(1985) (83) observed that most individuals evinced paw ginning in the 1960s, new theories started to dominate
preferences during a reaching task, but the overall number asymmetry research that regarded laterality as the result of
of left- and right-pawed animals was about equal. Thus the mutation of a single gene that occurred in the lineage to
mice showed individual level asymmetry (half of the popu- Homo sapiens (11, 13, 14, 91, 320). According to these
lation uses the left paw, while other half prefers the right), theories, population level asymmetries of a neural function
while rats demonstrate a mild population level asymmetry should not exist in non-human animals. The combination
(a majority of individuals prefers one paw). of these factors resulted in the strange fact that about a
century had to pass after Broca’s major discovery until sci-
Apes are the closest relatives of humans. Early reports re- entists realized that asymmetries of brain and function are a
vealed a pattern comparable to rodents with no clear-cut widespread property of the animal kingdom.

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

D. The Current View in Brief its left limb to keep the trilobite in position while repeatedly
flexing with its right limb its victim up and down until the
One hundred five years after Broca’s publication on lan- cuticle cracked in the vicinity of the mouth of Anomalocaris
guage asymmetry, Fernando Nottebohm (FIGURE 1C) pub- (339). If this reconstruction holds, the hunting strategy of
lished a seminal paper in which he described the ontogenetic Anomalocaris would be the first known example of “hand-
events during song learning in chaffinches (345). He out- edness” and could be traced back more than 500 million
lined that these birds go through processes that strongly years. Thus lateralization is very likely not a recent evolu-
resemble language learning in human infants. Most impor- tionary feature but about as old as the evolution of animals.
tantly for asymmetry research, he also described the results
of unilaterally transecting the nervus glossopharyngeus 2. Vertebrate handedness has no common ancestor
pars tracheosyringealis that connects the brain stem motor
areas with the syrinx, the functional equivalent to the mam-
Ströckens et al. (2013) (452) conducted a cladistic analysis
malian larynx. Transecting this nerve on the right resulted
on the large number of publications on the preponderance
in the loss of ~10% of the syllables. The same surgery on the
of one fin, paw, hand, or foot during all kinds of unimanual
left rendered the animal practically mute. Nottebohm
activities in 119 different vertebrate species. About two-
(1977) (346) described canaries after left-sided nerve tran-
thirds of the recorded species evinced some form of prefer-
section as behaving like an opera singer in a silent movie.
ence and were found throughout all vertebrate classes. Al-
The canary goes through all the movements of singing with-
though possibly a publication bias exists, it still holds that
out any sound being heard. Since a short while after these
limb preferences at the individual or the population level are
reports the central neural components of the song system
widespread among vertebrates. Most importantly, this mo-
could be identified (see sect. VA), the avian song system
tor bias seems to have evolved in the many distantly related
became a classic animal model for vocalization learning and
species all over the vertebrate tree. This makes common
population level asymmetry.
ancestry of the trait extremely unlikely and rather supports
the idea of parallel evolution. This conclusion is supported
Towards the end of the 1970s, Lesley Rogers (FIGURE 1D)
by research on bipedal and quadrupedal marsupials (169).
discovered that the left hemisphere of 2-day-old chicks
While the former often display a pronounced population
dominates the ability of the animals to learn a visual dis-
level forelimb preference, the latter ones often show weak
crimination task (406). In the subsequent years, Lesley Rog-
or no sidedness. This difference cannot be explained by
ers and her colleagues were also able to discover both the
phylogenetic relations, but seems to be shaped by local eco-
ontogenetic events with which this asymmetry is established
logical adaptations that characterize what the animals do
as well as the critical neural pathways that are responsible
with their hands. While the upright posture of bipedal mar-
for lateralized behavior (4, 403, 411). As a consequence,
supials enables them to make use of their hands for manip-
visual asymmetries in birds like chicks and pigeons became
ulation of branches and leaves, this is hardly possible for
an established animal model to disentangle the lateralized
quadrupeds that need all four extremities to walk. As a
perceptual, cognitive, ontogenetic, and neurobiological
consequence, bipedal species develop pronounced popula-
fundaments of left-right differences (see sect. II). These dis-
tion level handedness, while quadrupedal species have
coveries in songbirds and chicks slowly turned the tide.
hardly any. Thus strong handedness does not depend on the
Increasingly, novel kinds of non-human animal asymme-
phylogenetic proximity to humans, but on the local adap-
tries were described and animal models that enable the anal-
tation of a species to an ecosystem where it benefits from
yses of brain asymmetries from genes to behavior could be
fine manipulation. These results make it understandable
established (see FIGURE 2). This paper will now first illus-
why species like humans and some parrots with their need
trate some principles that can be learned from these diverse
and their ability for exquisite fine manipulation have devel-
findings before dwelling in detail about the insights gener-
oped strong and population level limb preferences.
ated by the main animal models.

1. Behavioral asymmetries can be traced back 500 3. The presence of asymmetry does not depend on
million years brain size

Babcock and Robison (1989) (21) analyzed bite marks on Ringo et al. (1994) (395) published a landmark study in
the rear of Cambrian trilobites that showed signs of post- which they hypothesized that the large size of the human
attack healing. They found that two-thirds of the animals brain in conjunction with the average slow conduction time
wore right-sided bite marks, while the rest evinced left-sided of the corpus callosum would prohibit multiple interhemi-
or bilateral wounds. At around that time it became likely spheric interactions during stimulus processing. As a result,
that a large predator called Anomalocaris regularly preyed time-critical tasks might be processed in one hemisphere,
on trilobites by using its pair of spiny frontal limbs (97, 98, resulting in pronounced asymmetries. This prediction
509). According to fossil reconstructions, Anomalocaris would imply that the probability to establish neural and
possibly attacked a trilobite by biting its right rear end, used functional left-right differences should be a function of

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

FIGURE 2. The phylogeny of asymmetry. A cladogram-based depiction of lateralized species that represent
major taxa of the animal phylum. From left to right: lateralized mating in pond snail (Lymnaea stagnalis) (101)
(Photo courtesy of Wolfgang Gessl.), visual asymmetries in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) (428) (Photo courtesy
of Sebastian Niedlich.), asymmetry in the nervous system and lateralized behavior in the nematode (Caeno-
rhabditis elegans) (227) (Photo courtesy of Judith Kimble.), asymmetry of olfaction in honey bees (Apis
mellifera) (393) (Photo courtesy of Entomology, CSIRO, CC BY 3.0.), handed curling in hagfish (Eptatretus
stoutii) (327) (Photo courtesy of Douglas Fudge and Andreas Zommers.), mouth asymmetry in lancelets
(Branchiostoma lanceolatum) (445) (Photo courtesy of Hans Hillewaert, CC BY-SA 4.0.), lateralized predator
avoidance in Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) (291) [Photo courtesy of Russell Bicknell, thanks to
University of New England (Armidale, NSW, Australia) Natural History collection, specimen UNE.NHM.Z
271.], asymmetrical organization of flight/fight responses in zebrafish (Danio rerio) (81) (Photo courtesy of
Cherus, CC BY-SA 3.0.), right-pawedness in toads (Bufo bufo) (38) (Photo courtesy of Armin Kübelbeck, CC
BY-SA.), handedness in red-necked wallabies (Notamacropus rufogriseus) (167) (Photo courtesy of Neil
Turner, CC BY-SA 2.0.), forefoot preference in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) (257) (Photo courtesy of
Christian Zacke, CC BY-SA 3.0.), handedness in the food-tube task in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) (231),
visual asymmetry in dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) (518) (Photo couretsy of Nataša Stuper, CC BY 2.0.),
lateralized eye preference for monitoring and escape behavior in the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)
(43), asymmetrical visual responses to mirrors in tortoises (Testudo hermanni) (446) (Photo courtesy of
Richard Mayer CC-BY-SA-3.0-migrated.), lateralized visually guided foraging in pigeons (Columba livia) (188)
(Photo courtesy of Lewis Hulbert, CC BY-SA 4.0.), asymmetrical song control in canaries (Serinus canaria)
(346) (Photo courtesy of David Stang, CC BY-SA 4.0.), and left-footedness in sulfur crested cockatoos
(Cacatua galerita) (402). Anomalocaris (*) is depicted on the line to modern arthropods, ~500 million years
before present (21) (Photo courtesy of Matteo De Stefano, MUSE - Science Museum of Trento. CC BY-SA
3.0.). It possibly represents the oldest evidence for behavioral asymmetry.

brain size with its peak in large brained animals like hu- 4. Human language asymmetry has ancient
mans, pinnipeds, elephants, and cetaceans. While indeed mammalian predecessors
there is evidence for hemispheric asymmetries in all of these
groups of animals (47, 256, 257, 518), there is similar evi- A cladistic analysis of vocal asymmetries in vertebrates re-
dence from small vertebrates (462, 492). vealed that a left-hemispheric dominance for the reception
and production of species-specific vocal communication
Importantly, also invertebrates like Caenorhabditis elegans seems to be typical for mammals across five orders (361).
(227) (see also sect. IIIA), slugs (317) and various insect These findings have important implications for recent the-
species (140, 142, 144, 393) show hemispheric asymme- ories on the phylogeny of human language lateralization
tries. In addition, pronounced asymmetries in vertebrate (88, 278). These scholars formulated the “From Hand to
species also occur without a corpus callosum as shown in Mouth” theory according to which the superiority of the
marsupials (167, 168, 481) and various non-mammalian left hemisphere for language is a consequence of human
vertebrates (354, 413, 486). While there is no doubt that the right-handedness for gesturing. Although indeed great apes
corpus callosum is a critical structure for mammalian later- gesture much more often with the right hand (231), the
alization, the argument of a commissural time constraint as left-hemispheric communication superiority is also evident
the main evolutionary selection pressure for the occurrence in animals like mice, rats, gerbils, dogs, sea lions, and horses
of brain asymmetries seems not to be valid. that do not gesture and might not even show a right limb

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

preference (361, 452). Thus a broader comparative framing in which they have to quickly search for grains scattered
supports the idea that we inherited a left-hemispheric supe- among pebbles and in parallel monitor birds of prey that
riority for conspecific vocalization from our mammalian occasionally fly overhead, the lateralized individuals per-
ancestors and then modified this common lopsided mam- form both tasks at a higher level. The nonlateralized birds
malian pattern into our unique language system (see sect. perform poorly, since they sometimes don’t spot the pred-
VA for a detailed discussion of hemispheric asymmetries in ator and when seeing it often mistake grits for grain (414).
neural systems for vocalizations). These and further evidence in other species (93) make it
likely that hemispheric asymmetry enables parallel process-
ing of complementary information within the two hemi-
E. Evolutionary Advantages of Hemispheric spheres (see FIGURE 3).
Asymmetries
All of these benefits can be reaped by an individual which
If lateralization is so widespread in so many species that live shows lateralization for a given process like, e.g., object
in so many different ecosystems, it possibly provides an manipulation. If this would be the sole advantage of asym-
important fitness benefit. Several studies indeed suggest that metries, we could expect that ~50% of the human popula-
this is the case, as long as the efficacy of the lateralized tion is left-handed while the remaining 50% consists of
system itself is tested (190). For example, pigeons with pro- right-handers. But this is obviously not the case. Instead,
nounced asymmetry for visual object recognition find more ~90% of the human population is right-handed. Similar,
grains that are scattered among pebbles (184). Similarly, but less pronounced, population level asymmetry has also
chimps with stronger individual hand preferences catch been found for language, spatial orientation, and many
more termites with their probing tools (319), and humans
more aspects of human left-right differences (463). When
with pronounced language asymmetry have higher scores in
hemispheric asymmetries in non-human animals are ana-
their verbal IQ (122) and read better (78). A large-scale
lyzed, many of the discovered examples also show popula-
dichotic listening study in more than 1,800 participants also
tion level asymmetries (143). Thus, from an evolutionary
found that both strong left- and strong right-hemispheric
point of view, population level asymmetries require an ex-
asymmetry in the dichotic listening task for language later-
planation that goes beyond the three benefits listed above,
alization were related to better task performance (225).
since these three do not require that the majority of a pop-
ulation is skewed unto the same direction.
What are the mechanisms that link asymmetry to perfor-
mance? There are possibly three such mechanisms. First, if
Vallortigara and Rogers (2005) (485) proposed that popu-
an animal mainly uses one limb or one side of its sensory
systems to interact with the environment, the hemisphere lation level asymmetries are related to the diverse aspects of
contralateral to the preferred side will go through life-long social interactions of lateralized species. According to their
perceptual or motor learning. Thereby, sensory discrimina- view, the evolution of cerebral lateralization possibly pro-
tion ability and motor efficacy will increase unilaterally. For ceeded in two steps. In step one, individual level asymme-
example, black-winged stilts mainly use their right eye for tries were selected because this neural organization pro-
predatory pecking. Consequently, pecks with their right eye vides perceptual, cognitive, and motor advantages. How-
are more successful (494). Similarly, when locusts have to ever, for animals that live in groups like, e.g., fish that swim
walk past a gap, they usually preferentially use the right or in shoals, there is a further factor that affects their lateral-
the left leg. Individuals with a strong preference for one leg ization. When this school is attacked by a predator, individ-
are more successful (31). Thus a small advantage of one uals can benefit from a dilution effect by all turning into the
extremity, combined with lateralized practice, will increase same direction. Thus aligning in turning preferences with
performance and an even higher likelihood that this side is the others can save lives and is therefore selected (37, 483).
used. However, when predators learn about turning preferences
of this species, they can anticipate in which direction to
Second, increased training with the perceptual or motor swim to catch the most. In this case, a minority with a
system of one side results in shorter reaction times (177, different turning preference might have better chances for
484), an advantage that enables survival when having to act survival. Using game-theoretical modeling, Ghirlanda and
fast to predators or food (479). This effect is also observed Vallortigara (2004) (166) suggested that such a scenario
in countless visual half-field studies with human subjects would indeed produce a population level asymmetry for the
when tested with material that activates lateralized sensory majority of individuals, and a reversed asymmetry in a mi-
or cognitive processes (356, 496). nority.

Third, if two complementary neural processes are com- More recently, Ghirlanda et al. (2009) (165) extended this
puted in parallel in the two hemispheres, cognitive redun- view by proposing an intraspecies evolutionary stable strat-
dancy is reduced and overall efficacy is increased. Indeed, egy that posits that population level asymmetries can arise
when lateralized and nonlateralized chicks perform a task by a balance between competitive interactions at the antag-

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

FIGURE 3. Asymmetry pays. Brain later-

alization in domestic chicks is associated
with an advanced ability to perform two
tasks in parallel. In this study chicks had to
find grains among pebbles and were simul-
taneously forced to be vigilant for birds of
prey. Lateralized birds could do this well,
while nonlateralized ones failed. [Based on
Rogers et al. (414).]

onistic level and cooperative interactions at the synergistic G. Interim Summary Section I
level. The first would produce a minority with an atypical
lateralization, e.g., left-handers that are successful in com- • Comparative anatomical studies in the first half of the
petitive sports like boxing (193) or fencing (206). In con- 19th century suggested that cortical asymmetries in
trast, the second form of interaction would result in a ma- non-human primates were subtle while those in hu-
jority with an identical side preference, e.g., as has been mans were pronounced. After Broca’s discovery,
shown for gesturing during auditory signaling in apes (382). mainly primates were anatomically analyzed for corti-
cal asymmetries in the area of the human language
F. Outline of the Review system. In parallel, behavioral studies on handedness
were conducted in primates and rodents. All discov-
In this section, we summarized the history of comparative ered left-right differences were rather small, bolstering
lateralization research from its roots in the 19th century, the view that left-right differences are a hallmark of our
focusing almost exclusively on humans, up to modern time species’ cognitive advance and our phylogenetic
studies identifying behavioral and brain asymmetries in uniqueness. Consequently, it was assumed that animal
hundreds of different vertebrate and even invertebrate spe- models for asymmetries could not exist.
cies. Given that hemispheric asymmetries provide distinct • It took about a century until, beginning with the 1970s,
advantages for the individual or even the whole population, pronounced population level asymmetries of the avian
it is likely that future studies will identify even more species song and visual system were discovered. These studies
with lateralized nervous systems and behavior. In the fol- could also uncover neuroanatomical and ontogenetic
lowing sections of this review, we would like, however, to left-right differences. Thus neurobiological details of
focus on a few, well-investigated examples of brain lateral- lateralized systems could be studied for the first time.
ization. In the second section of this review, we will use the • Today, left-right differences of various behavioral, ge-
examples of the zebrafish, the pigeon, and the nematode C. netic, or neural systems are known in close to 200
elegans to discuss the question of how brain asymmetries species, reaching from worm to human. Cladistic stud-
emerge during ontogenesis. In the third section, we will ies show that lateralized systems evolved multiple
highlight different perceptual and motor asymmetries using times, depending on local ecological pressures. The
mostly studies on bird species as examples. The fourth sec- presence of asymmetries does not depend on brain type
tion deals with asymmetrical organized networks in the or size, nor on the presence or absence of the corpus
brain, with humans and pigeons as prime examples. In the callosum.
fifth and last section, we will focus on language lateraliza- • Asymmetries are beneficial by 1) increasing perceptual
tion and lateralization in emotional processing based on or motor abilities through life-long training of one
studies on humans, songbirds, and non-human primates. hemisphere, 2) decreasing reaction time and increasing

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

speed of this trained side, and 3) parallel processing of

complementary cognitive processes in the two hemi-
spheres.
• Population level asymmetries where a majority is
skewed to one and a minority to the other side might
constitute an evolutionary stable strategy between cir-
cumstances in which being part of a majority or of a
minority can produce complementary gains.
• Animal models enable the reconstruction of the phylo-
genetic past of asymmetries. But they also help to un-
derstand the ontogenetic events that cause the emer-
gence of lateralized system during ontogeny. These rel-
evant genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors
will be outlined in the next section.

II. HOW ASYMMETRIES EMERGE

A. Development of Neuroanatomical
Asymmetries in the Zebrafish

As we have shown, brain asymmetries are a widespread

feature in the animal kingdom and have clear evolutionary
advantages. But how do they emerge during ontogeny?
Early research on this topic suggested a monocausal, single-
gene explanation for the emergence of handedness in hu-
mans (12, 321). In contrast to this view, today it is clear that
a single genetic factor is insufficient to explain the ontoge-
netic development of any lateralized function (190). In-
stead, it is likely a mixture of several different genetic, en-
vironmental, and epigenetic factors that causes the emer-
gence of asymmetries in a developing vertebrate embryo or
insect larva. To make the story even more complicated,
these three factors often interact with each other on many
different levels, enhancing, muting, or altering their respec-
tive effects.

Probably the most widely used model species to investigate

how genetic influences shape a lateralized phenotype is the FIGURE 4. Asymmetries in the zebrafish epithalamus. Due to
zebrafish (Danio rerio). In these small tropical fishes, the asymmetric genetic cascades during development (see text), the
parapineal and the habenular complex in zebrafish are asymmetri-
pineal complex and the habenular complex within the epi- cally organized. The photosensitive parapineal (PP), associated to
thalamus are strongly asymmetric. The pineal complex, the pineal complex (P), is situated in most zebrafish on the left side
consisting of the pineal and parapineal organ, is a unilateral and only projects to the left habenula. Furthermore, only the left
structure, which is situated on the left side in ~90% of all habenula receives visual input from the emenentia thalami, while
wild-type zebrafish (94). The habenula of zebrafish consists only the right habenula receives olfactory information by fibers from
the olfactory bulb. Also, the size and neuron numbers of habenular
of three subnuclei: the ventral, the lateral dorsal, and the subnuclei differ between left and right. The lateral dorsal habenular
medial dorsal habenula. While the ventral habenula is sim- nucleus (ldHb) is significantly larger on the left, while the medial
ilar in size and projection pattern on both sides, the dorsal dorsal habenular nucleus (mdHB) is larger on the right side. The
habenular subnuclei differ massively between the hemi- ventral habenular nucleus (vHb) does not differ in size between left
spheres. On the left side, the lateral dorsal habenular nu- and right side. These differences in size also cause an asymmetry in
fiber projections onto nuclei within the mesencephalon. The dorsal
cleus is significantly larger, contains more neurons, and in nucleus interpeduncularis (IPN) predominately receives input from the
contrast to its counterpart on the right side receives input left ldHb, while the ventral IPN is mostly targeted by fibers from the right
from the unilateral photosensitive parapineal organ. How- mdHB. Dorsal and ventral IPN possess distinct efferents to the median
ever, in the right habenular complex, the medial dorsal raphe (MR) and the dorsal tegmental area (dTA), which are crucial for
habenula is larger, contains more neurons, and receives pre- emotionally guided behavior. It is thus likely that habenular asymmetries
have an effect on such behaviors (see text). [Modified from Güntürkün
dominantly input from the olfactory bulb (6, 240, 326, and Ocklenburg (190).]
419) (FIGURE 4).

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

Furthermore, only the left dorsal habenula receives visual fish. However, in zebrafish mutants in which Fgf signaling is
input from a specific subset of retinal ganglion cells over the impaired, the parapineal and the habenula develop symmet-
eminentia thalami (526). These gross differences in size and rically. Implantation of an Fgf8 bead in embryos of this
afferents are also reflected in lateralized habenular func- mutant restores parapineal asymmetry, suggesting a sym-
tions. While neurons in the left habenula mostly respond to metry breaking effect of Fgf signaling (390). However, the
light stimuli, neurons in the right habenula fire mostly in Fgf pathway does not seem to control the side of lateraliza-
response to olfactory cues (111, 526). The size asymmetry tion. This control is exerted by Nodal signaling, which al-
of the dorsal habenular nuclei has also an effect on down- most exclusively occurs in the left but not in the right epi-
stream areas. The lateral dorsal habenula projects to the thalamus in wild-type zebrafish larvae (85). In zebrafish
dorsal component of the mesencephalic nucleus interpe- lacking Nodal signaling, parapineal cells migrate towards
duncularis (IPN), while the medial dorsal habenula projects Fgf sources, irrespective of where the sources have been
to the ventral part of this nucleus. Since the lateral dorsal placed. When Nodal signaling is intact, parapineal cells
habenula is larger on the left side, the dorsal IPN predomi- migrate mostly to the left side. In such a case, the exact
nately receives input from the left habenula, while the ven- location of the natural or artificially placed Fgf signal does
tral IPN is mostly targeted by fibers from the right habenula not seem to play a role anymore (390). Thus Fgf signaling
(6). This projection asymmetry is likely to affect zebrafish seems to be crucial to induce habenular asymmetries in
behavior. Ventral and dorsal IPN possess distinct projec- zebrafish while lateralized Nodal signaling determines the
tions to the dorsal tegmental area and the median raphe direction of the asymmetry.
nuclei, two areas with a high relevance for emotional be-
haviors. Thus it is not surprising that manipulation of the This obviously leads to the question why Nodal signaling in
lateralized lateral or medial dorsal habenular nuclei also the epithalamus is lateralized during embryonic develop-
have distinct effects on behaviors like fear responses, anxi- ment. The lateralized epithalamic Nodal signaling is depen-
ety, or social aggression (81, 112, 123). Habenular asym- dent on a general lateralization of Nodal signaling in the
metries in zebrafish have also been shown to affect func- lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) to the left side in the devel-
tional hemispheric asymmetries. As outlined above, the pi- oping zebrafish embryo (70, 296). This lateralization in
neal complex is usually located to the left side in wild-type
turn is based on an event called “Nodal flow,” which seems
fish. The migration of the pineal complex to the left side
to be conserved in many, but not all vertebrate species (for
occurs early in development and induces the above-men-
birds, see Ref. 174). “Nodal flow” seems to be critical for
tioned asymmetries in fiber projections (94). In a study that
the establishment of left-right asymmetries of inner organs
compared zebrafish with normal leftward pineal complex
like heart, stomach, pancreas, or spleen asymmetries (121,
positioning to zebrafish with atypical rightward pineal
226, 344, 364, 444). After establishment of the dorsal-
complex positioning, several changes in functional hemi-
ventral and anterior-posterior axis during early develop-
spheric asymmetries were observed (94). Three motor lat-
ment, embryos of several vertebrate species form a fluid-
erality tests were conducted (eye preference for viewing
filled node or organ (see FIGURE 5A). This organ is called
own reflection, eye use in predator inspection, rotational
ventral node in mammals, Kupffer’s vesicle in fish species
preference), and zebrafish with their pineal complex on the
right side were found to show significant differences to an- like zebrafish, or in some species simply left-right orga-
imals with the typical leftward positioning of the pineal nizer (120, 344, 444). The inner surface of this node is
complex in all three tests. However, the evidence for a re- lined with cells bearing cilia, protruding into the fluid-
versal of behavioral asymmetries in zebrafish with atypical filled chamber. These hairlike organelles have the ability
anatomical asymmetries is somewhat mixed, as a study in to beat, causing a rotational movement around their ba-
fsi zebrafish found a reversal of laterality only for a subset of sis (see FIGURE 5B). However, due to their protein and
behavioral responses (26). cytoskeletal structure, these rotations can only occur in
one direction, causing a weak fluid movement at the sur-
face of or in the node (120, 342, 365). It has been sug-
B. How Genetic Factors Shape Anatomical gested that this flow either transports a so far unknown
Asymmetries morphogen or a morphogen-filled vesicle to the left side
of the node. Alternatively, the flow itself could be de-
Over the last two decades, a plethora of studies have shown tected by sensory cilia (22, 344).
how genetic factors shape habenular and pineal complex
asymmetries in the developing zebrafish larva. Among oth- Although the exact mechanism still needs to be clarified, it
ers, the Fgf, the Nodal, the Notch, and the Wnt/␤-catenin has been shown in both mice and zebrafish that the flow
signaling pathway seem to be crucial for this development causes a stronger calcium influx in the cells on the left than
(190, 240). In wild-type zebrafish embryos, Fgf signaling in on the right side of the node (273, 318). Furthermore, the
the developing epithalamus occurs mostly symmetrical and flow causes a higher expression of Nodal in cells surround-
leads to the before mentioned habenular asymmetries as ing the node on the left side (55). Subsequently, these events
well as to the left-sided position of the pineal organ in most lead to an activation of the Nodal signaling cascade in the

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

FIGURE 5. The role of cilia function for the emergence of hemispheric asymmetries. A: a schematic embryo
showing asymmetric expression of Nodal on the left side. B: the inner surface of the node is lined with cells
bearing cilia, protruding into the fluid-filled chamber. These motilic cilia have the ability to beat, causing a
rotational movement around their basis, resulting in a leftward flow that leads to stronger calcium influx in the
cells on the left than on the right side of the node as well as higher expression of Nodal in cells surrounding the
node on the left side. C: the Nodal signaling cascade leads to asymmetric body development.

left but not the right LPM, observable by higher expression alized Nodal signaling in the developing epithalamus,
levels of the gene Nodal itself but also of genes of the Nodal which in turn is dependent on lateralized activation of the
signaling cascade like southpaw, Lefty2, or Pitx2 (see FIG- Nodal pathway in the LPM, which is, as we just described,
URE 5C). This asymmetric expression in the left LPM also dependent on a functioning “Nodal flow.” A disruption of
affects gene expression in the right LPM. Upregulation of the “Nodal flow” would thus also disrupt habenular asym-
Nodal in the left LPM results in a higher expression of metries, showing the importance of this event even for neu-
Lefty2, which inhibits diffusion of Nodal to the right side. ronal and possibly behavioral asymmetries. These exam-
This further reduces the already lower levels of Nodal in the ples, however, only represent an aspect of the role these four
right LPM and prevents the expression of Pitx2, which is signaling pathways play for asymmetry induction. Given
also dependent on Nodal presence (324). Thus Pitx2 is only their central role during embryogenesis, it is very likely that
expressed on the left side and seems to be responsible for they also affect asymmetry formation in other ways. For
establishing the inner organ asymmetry (293). Artificial example, both Notch and Wnt signaling are required for the
changes in expression of these genes in the LPM alter the asymmetric distribution of dorsal habenular cells (240),
positioning of inner organs and prevent the establishment which is in addition to the role Notch and Wnt take during
of a normal asymmetry pattern [e.g., Lefty2 (324), Pitx2 ciliogenesis.
(420); reviewed in Ref. 344]. Also, changes of the “Nodal
flow” within the node disrupt the normal asymmetry pat- Given this well-studied example, it is appealing to con-
tern of the inner organs (342, 364). nect and explain all neuronal or behavioral asymmetries
to these genetically controlled events. However, unfortu-
At this stage, also the before-mentioned Notch and Wnt/␤- nately, this is not possible. For the most prominent be-
catenin signaling pathways come into play. Disruption of havioral lateralization in humans, handedness, a twin
both pathways (and the before-mentioned Fgf pathway) study showed that genetic effects could only account for
can impair node formation and cilia structure (316), effect- 25% of the variance of handedness in twins, while the
ing the characteristics of the “Nodal flow.” As an example, remaining 75% would have to be explained by other
zebrafish mutants with a disrupted Notch pathway display factors (322). This study is supported by a recent meta-
shorter cilia and a reduced flow in their Kupffer’s vesicle, analysis investigating the relationship between handed-
leading to an impaired asymmetry of the gut (297). ness and early life factors as well as genotype in more
than 500,000 individuals (103). The analysis revealed
Coming back to habenular asymmetries in zebrafish: the only a very weak heritability for left-handedness (4.35%)
direction of habenular asymmetries is dependent on later- and identified factors like birth weight, location of birth,

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

sex, or occurrence of breastfeeding to affect handedness. even the same as described for the zebrafish), the induction of
A number of genes, including PCSK6, LRRTM1 (18, 52, the described visual asymmetries is induced by the stronger
53, 139, 422), and the microtubule-associated gene light stimulation of the right eye. Several experiments have
MAP2 (103a, 510), have been associated with human shown that dark incubation of pigeon or chicken eggs prevents
handedness. However, genetic variation within these formation of visual asymmetries (145, 305, 403, 442). In ad-
genes cannot fully account for occurrence and distribu- dition, blocking visual stimulation of the right eye by an
tion of handedness in the population. Interestingly, opaque patch before hatch in chickens (411) or after hatch in
PCSK6 is involved in the Nodal cascade (435), possibly pigeons (304) reverses both anatomical and behavioral asym-
indicating that human handedness is not totally indepen- metries. However, even the emergence of asymmetries in the
dent from the mechanisms described before. visual systems of pigeons and chicken cannot be explained by
a single environmental factor alone. Recent studies in pigeons
have shown that distinct visual advantages of the right hemi-
C. Role of Environmental Factors for the sphere (e.g., attentional bias) develop in the absence of light
Ontogenesis of Hemispheric Asymmetries and are thus seemingly not reliant on an environmental factor
but might be genetically or epigenetically predetermined (283,
Aside from genetic factors, the development of brain asym- 284). Moreover, in chicks, it has been shown that some forms
metries has often been linked to environmental factors. Al- of lateralization (e.g., the preference of which eye is kept open
though there are a couple of examples from humans like the during sleep) can develop even in the absence of light stimula-
before-mentioned relation of handedness to early life fac- tion (315). Moreover, it has been shown that in chicks, the
tors (103), culture (389), or early visual experience of the effect of light stimulation is modulated by the time window in
hands (351), one of the best examples for the role of envi- which dark incubation occurs (76, 77).
ronmental stimuli on asymmetry formation comes from
birds. Both adult pigeons (Columba livia) and chicken
hatchlings (Gallus domesticus) display behavioral asymme- D. Potential Impact of Epigenetic Factors on
tries for a variety of visual tasks including for example Hemispheric Asymmetries
discrimination of fine details (178, 306, 404), spatial navi-
gation (334, 384, 468, 469, 480), categorization (519), or The last aspect affecting the emergence of brain asymmetries
social cognition (96, 482). we would like to discuss here are epigenetic factors. The role of
epigenetic factors moved only very recently into the scope of
These asymmetries are not limited to behavior, but are also lateralization researchers and was mainly driven by an appar-
evident in the underlying neuronal networks. Even though ent paradox in handedness research. Family research revealed
one could assume that these behavioral asymmetries are the heritability of handedness to be between 0.39 and 0.66
caused by left-right differences of the sensory organs, it is (289, 396), with the handedness of the parents being a strong
not the peripheral visual system constituted by retinal cells predictor for the handedness of the offspring (321). However,
and their fibers projecting over the optic nerves that show as we have mentioned above, identified genetic factors are not
an asymmetry. Instead, mesencephalic (pigeon) or dien- sufficient to explain the heritability of handedness. One could
cephalic (pigeon, chicken) visual relay areas show asymme- assume now that it is either explicit instruction by the parents
tries in projection strength or differences in cell size between or implicit role model learning that which shapes handedness
left and right side (180, 187, 304, 305, 407, 451). As an in their children. The problem is that strength of lateralization
example, in pigeons, the right mesencephalic tectum opti- in stepparents is unrelated to their children’s handedness
cum (homologue to the superior colliculus in mammals) (224), devaluating the effect of education on handedness.
exhibits larger neuron somata in the deeper layers 13–15 Moreover, handedness in adoptive parents is unrelated to chil-
and sends more efferents to the contralateral diencephalic dren’s handedness (71). A solution to this heritability problem
nucleus rotundus than the optic tectum on the left side (187, could be epigenetic effects (427). Epigenetic mechanisms alter
305) (FIGURES 6 and 7A). Since relay areas like the nucleus the expression of genes without altering their nucleotide se-
rotundus are critical in gating sensory input to the telen- quence and can thus lead to phenotypic changes (75). Since
cephalon, said asymmetries likely cause differences in the epigenetic DNA modifications can be inherited to the next
amount and quality of information available to each fore- generation, they could shape handedness without changes in
brain hemisphere (307). the genotype. Although there are currently very few studies
investigating the effect of epigenetic factors on brain asymme-
In both pigeons and chickens, behavioral as well as anatomical tries, the few studies published indicate that these factors
asymmetries are triggered by the environmental factor light. might indeed play an important role (see BOX 1 for more
During embryonic development, both bird species take an details on epigenetic mechanisms).
asymmetrical position inside the egg in which the right eye is
pointed towards the translucent eggshell, while the left eye is Two recent studies (276, 426) investigated DNA methyl-
occluded by the embryo’s body (270). While the positioning of ation, a form of epigenetic DNA modification, of the
the body is very likely controlled by genetic cascades (possibly LRRTM1 and NEUROD6 genes and found a relation

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

FIGURE 6. Subdivisions of the vertebrate brain. The classification into separate regions and their nomen-
clature is based on sequential steps during the embryonic development of the brain, which are more or less
identical within all vertebrate species. During early embryonic development, the neural tube at the rostral pole
of the embryo forms three vesicular structures named prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain),
and rhombencephalon (hindbrain). Both the prosencephalon and the rhombencephalon split up into two further
vesicles, constituting together with the mesencephalon the 5 major subdivisions of any vertebrate brain: 1)
telencephalon, 2) diencephalon, 3) mesencephalon, 4) metencephalon, and 5) myelencephalon. The remaining
neural tube develops into the spinal cord (medulla spinalis). Each subdivision develops into further structures
of which we only listed the largest and most important ones. These structures can differ massively in shape and
size between different vertebrate species. The brain on the left side is thus only a schematic of the vertebrate
brain bauplan and does not represent a specific vertebrate species. Note that the pallium would normally cover
the subpallium as well as parts of the diencephalon. We removed these pallial parts to make the underlying
structures visible. Furthermore, the tegmentum and the pons are covered by the tectum and the cerebellum,
respectively, and are thus not visible in our figure (181, 337, 457).

between handedness and the strength of methylation of ations finally allowing a boost of lsy-6 gene expression in
these genes. Furthermore, an anatomical study discov- the mother cell of the sensory neuron on the left, but not
ered a profound asymmetry in the DNA methylation pat- on the right side, which decides the fate of the neuron
tern in the spinal cord of human embryos, which could be (82). This example shows impressively how an asymme-
related to developing motor asymmetries like handedness try can be inherited over multiple (cell) generations with-
(359). out the need of changing the genotype.

Besides human data, the only evidence for a role of epi-

genetic factors on the emergence of lateralized functions E. Hormones Can Shape Hemispheric
stems from research on the nematode C. elegans. C. el- Asymmetries
egans displays a well-studied asymmetry in chemotactic
sensory system (456), which we discuss in more detail in At the end of this section, we would like to briefly discuss a
section IIIA of this review. This asymmetry is based on a factor that is likely not initially triggering hemispheric
lateralized distribution of sensory neurons with different asymmetries, but has been shown to be able to profoundly
chemoreceptive properties. These different chemorecep- shape them. In addition to their effects on the reproductive
tive properties and with them said asymmetry are primed system, sex hormones have been shown to effect brain phys-
very early during ontogeny in progenitors of these neu- iology and cognitive functions (196). This also seems to
rons by microRNA (miRNA). miRNA expression in the hold true for hemispheric asymmetries. During the men-
progenitor cell of the left-sided neuron, but not of the strual cycle in women, levels of the sex hormones estradiol
right-sided neuron, causes a change in chromatin config- and progesterone fluctuate, depending on cycle phase (210).
uration. This change is inherited over several cell gener- Several studies have shown that the lateralized behavior in

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

FIGURE 7. Sagittal view of the tectofugal pathway in pigeons. This system starts with the projection of retinal
ganglion cells to the contralateral tectum. Tectal neurons project to the thalamic n. rotundus. From there,
projection leads to the telencephalic entopallium (E), which then has cascades of reciprocal projections to
several surrounding visual associative areas [perientopallial belt (Ep), nidopallium intermedium laterale (NIL),
nidopallium frontolaterale (NFL)]. These areas then project to the arcopallium, a sensorimotor structure.
Descending projections to the tectum close this tectofugal loop. However, both the tectum and the arcopallium
also project to diverse brain stem motor fields that control various movement patterns. [Glass brain from
Güntürkün et al. (192), with permission from Springer Nature.]

paradigms like figure recognition, spatial attention tasks, or Taken together, in this section we tried to show that the emer-
the dichotic listening task (28, 209, 332, 399) change de- gence of neuronal and behavioral asymmetries is affected by
pendent on cycle phase and hormone levels. Neuroimaging many genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors that can
studies confirmed these findings, showing a change in hemi- take action during different time points of ontogenesis. Most
spheric asymmetries depending on menstrual cycle phase of these factors act during embryonic development, but some,
(466, 505). It was thus suggested that estradiol and proges- for example, cultural effects on handedness in humans, also
terone influence the degree of lateralization most likely by shape asymmetries well after birth. In addition, although some
influencing the transfer or information between the two aspects of asymmetry emergence in some species is very well
hemispheres (210, 211). Furthermore, several studies understood (e.g., symmetry breaking events in zebrafish), we
showed that prenatal and pubertal testosterone levels can still do not fully understand any of the chain of events leading
influence the strength of brain asymmetries like language from an initial symmetry breaking process to a behavioral
lateralization, asymmetries in mental rotation, or dichotic lateralization in an adult animal.
listening tasks (30, 299, 329).
F. Interim Summary Section II
Effects of testosterone during critical developmental peri-
ods were also observed in several animals. As an example, • The emergence of asymmetries is likely dependent on a
in male chicken, injections of testosterone shortly after mixture of genetic, environmental, and epigenetic factors,
hatch prevents or reverses establishment of the visual dis- which take effect during different time points of ontogen-
crimination asymmetries described above (524). An effect esis.
of testosterone on brain lateralization was also shown in • In zebrafish, asymmetric expression of genes within the
rats (418) and gulls (377). Several theories have been Nodal cascade during early embryonic development trig-
brought forward to explain how testosterone influences the gers left-right differentiation of the inner organs and set
development of hemispheric asymmetries (161–163, 275, up the scene for later developing asymmetry in the habe-
514). However, a recent meta-analysis revealed that none of nular complex.
these theories is sufficiently supported by empirical evi- • This expression asymmetry is in turn triggered by an
dence and that therefore more empirical studies on the sub- asymmetric fluid flow (the “Nodal flow”) caused by cilia
ject are needed (370). only rotating in one direction.

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

III. THE LATERALIZED BRAIN IN ACTION:

BOX 1. Epigenetic mechanisms FROM SENSORY INPUT TO MOTOR
Epigenetic mechanisms can alter gene expression without OUTPUT
changing the DNA sequence itself (7, 75, 213, 491). Effects
caused by epigenetic changes can be inherited mitotically
(within a somatic cell lineage) or meiotically (from parents to A. Asymmetries Start Early
their offspring) and can thus alter the phenotype of a cell or
species population trans-generationally. The currently best
investigated epigenetic mechanisms are DNA methylation, The last section outlined that asymmetries of brain and
histone modification, and effects of noncoding RNAs. DNA behavior are molded into their adult form by various factors
methylation describes the addition of methyl groups to the that reach from genes to environment. Most importantly,
cytosine bases within the DNA. These methyl groups can
these processes modify many structures of the nervous sys-
prevent binding of transcription factors or other DNA binding
factors and thus inhibit transcription of a gene. Histone tem in lateralized ways. Some of these neural structures
modification also alters gene transcription but relies on a belong to the various sensory pathways. So, do asymmetries
different mechanism. Within the nucleus of a cell, the major- already start at the very beginning of perception or do they
ity of DNA is wound around complexes of proteins called emerge at later stages of cognitive, affective, and motor
histones. Before transcription, the DNA needs to be “un-
processing? A strong argument against a sensory origin of
winded” to allow transcription factors access. Histones can
be modified by the addition of acetyl groups or ubiquitin. This lateralization would be the need to have a complete and
alters the DNA unwinding process and thus effects gene thus symmetric organization of perceptual representation.
transcription. Noncoding RNAs are RNA fragments that are For example, information from both visual fields are
not translated into proteins (e.g., siRNA, microRNA, equally important for the organism’s response to the envi-
lncRNA). These RNA fragments can interact with mRNAs to
ronment since relevant cues can occur on both sides with
repress their translation into proteins. Transgenerational
inheritance based on these mechanisms has been well doc- equal probability. In contrast to this assumption, recent
umented in bacteria, plants, and nematodes. However, in comparative research has brought forward convincing evi-
mammalian and likely also other vertebrate species, the ma- dence that various hemispheric asymmetries of sensory in-
jority of epigenetic marks are erased from the parental gam- formation processing stream can be demonstrated in a large
etes and reset after fertilization. A specific challenge in epi-
number of systems and species (401).
genetic studies in human volunteers is the fact that DNA
methylation (the most commonly investigated epigenetic pro-
cess in human volunteers) is to some extent tissue-specific. One prominent example is the simple nervous system of the
As acquisition of brain tissue is limited to post mortem stud- nematode C. elegans that contains just 302 neurons, ar-
ies, researchers typically use blood, saliva, or buccal tissue ranged in an essentially invariant structure (508). Two-
as surrogate tissues in human in vivo epigenetics studies.
thirds of these neurons are arranged as bilaterally symmet-
While the correlations between DNA methylation in brain
tissue and these surrogate tissue has been shown to be high rical pairs, while one-third are located on or close to the
for average methylation across the methylome (saliva-brain midline (227). Interestingly, some pairs of structurally sym-
correlation: r ⫽ 0.90; blood-brain correlation: r ⫽ 0.86; metric neurons in the chemosensory system show pro-
buccal-brain correlation: r ⫽ 0.85) (54), correlations for nounced functional asymmetries. Chemotaxis, i.e., the
specific loci within the genome can be substantially lower.
movement of C. elegans in response to chemical stimuli, is
Thus methylation in peripheral tissue needs to be interpreted
as a marker for similar processes in neuronal tissue, not as controlled by a pair of neurons, the left-sided ASEL, and the
a causal agent by itself. right-sided ASER. ASEL is stimulated by increases, while
ASER is activated by decreases in NaCl concentration
(456). These asymmetries in sensory processing also extend
to the behavioral level, as unilateral activation experiments
• Studies in humans and the nematode C. elegans have indicated that activation of ASEL promotes forward loco-
shown that epigenetic factors like DNA methylation or motion of the nematode, while activation of ASER pro-
miRNA might act as a mechanism to inherit asymmetries motes direction changes (456). In principle, it can be argued
on an individual or cell level. that C. elegans and its nervous system is so small that stim-
• In chicken and pigeons, visual asymmetries are shaped by uli cannot be represented in a topographical manner any-
an asymmetrical stimulation of the right eye by the envi- ways. This argument is increasingly difficult to uphold with
ronmental factor light during embryonic development, the following examples.
caused by an asymmetrical body posture of the embryo
within the egg. Animals with much larger nervous systems like some insect
species evince asymmetries in processing of olfactory infor-
• Changes of sex hormones during development or sex hor-
mation like honeybees Apis mellifera (8, 141, 282, 393), the
mone fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can change bumblebee Bombus terrestris (9), and fruit flies Drosophila
the degree of hemispheric asymmetries. melanogaster (114). The same is true for the auditory sense
• These events alter the interactions between sensory and in the Australian bushcricket Requena verticalis (24). Out-
motor pathways in lateralized ways, as will be outlined in side of the Insecta class, sensory asymmetries have also been
the next section. reported in the visual system of Octopus vulgaris (64, 65).

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

Given the widespread occurrence of neural asymmetries in tein levels after novel taste learning, with about half of
sensory systems of invertebrates, it comes as no surprise the animals showing strong leftward and the other half
that sensory hemispheric asymmetries have also been re- strong rightward lateralization. No lateralization was
ported in several non-human vertebrate species (see FIGURE observed after familiar taste learning, implying a specific
6 for an overview about major parts of the vertebrate brain role of lateralization for novel taste learning.
discussed in the following sections).
Comparable findings also exist for human subjects with
One example is the organization of the visual system in pi- respect to several sensory modalities (49). For vision, the
geons (Columba livia) (190, 306, 477). For example, Ya- most well-known example of hemispheric asymmetries in
mazaki et al. (519) used a visual categorization paradigm in sensory processing comes from experiments with the classic
which pigeons had to categorize pictures of humans and were Navon figures where the observer sees different patterns,
tested binocularly or monocularly (left or right eye) on the depending on a local or gloval perceptual strategy (338).
learned as well as on novel transfer stimuli. Their findings Here, the left hemisphere shows a dominance for the
suggested that visual categorization in the left hemisphere of processing of local stimulus features, while the right
pigeons is focused on local features, while visual categoriza- hemisphere shows a dominance for the processing of
tion in the right hemisphere is relying on stimulus configura- global stimulus features (218, 489). In the auditory mo-
tion. dality, pronounced hemispheric asymmetries for the pro-
cessing of spectral and temporal characteristics of a
In the auditory domain, research on hemispheric asymmetries sound have been reported (429). Here, it was shown that
has for example been conducted in the zebra finch (Taeniopy- the left planum temporale, containing Wernicke’s area, is
gia guttata). Research focusing on the auditory perception of sensitive to temporal sound variations, while its right-
birdsong in this species revealed that male zebra finches show hemispheric homologue is sensitive to spectral sound
hemispheric asymmetries in spectral and temporal domain variations. A different kind of evidence for the impact of
processing of perceived songs (492). The study showed that the physical format of language stimuli on asymmetries
songs with reduced spectral but normal temporal information comes from a study in which native speakers of Turkish
elicited greater left-hemispheric activity in the auditory fore- whistle language were tested in a dichotic listening par-
brain than unaltered songs. This is similar to what has been adigm with the same syllables in articulated and whistled
reported in human speech areas (see below). form. While classic articulated syllables caused the ex-
pected right-ear advantage, the whistled syllables were
For the haptic modality, the tufted capuchin monkey picked by both ears equally (185).
(Cebus apella) was shown to be more accurate in a haptic
discrimination task when using the left compared with For the haptic modality, it has been reported that the left
the right hand (447). Hemispheric asymmetries have also hemisphere shows an advantage for tactual simultaneous
been reported for the chemical senses (taste and olfac- judgements (341). Similarly, a left hemisphere advantage has
tion) in non-human vertebrates, e.g., dogs. Siniscalchi et been reported for dichhaptic test in which participants had to
al. (439) used a paradigm in which dogs had to sniff simultaneously discriminate shapes with their two hands (48).
human or canine olfactory stimuli that were collected
while the animals experienced different emotional As for non-human vertebrates, lateralization has also been
events. They found that dogs used their right nostril to reported for the chemical senses (olfaction and taste) in
sniff canine olfactory stimuli collected in emotionally humans. For olfaction, a dominance of the right hemi-
negative situations. In contrast, they prevalently used sphere, particularly the right orbitofrontal cortex, has been
their left nostril to sniff human odors collected during reported for odor recall (50, 51). For taste, Faurion et al.
emotionally negative situations. These findings led the (126) conducted an functional magnetic resonance imaging
authors to conclude that conspecific and heterospecific (fMRI) study in which brain activation was measured while
emotional olfactory stimuli are processed using different various tastes were used to bilaterally stimulate the tongue
sensory pathways. The taste sense is closely related to in left- and right-handed subjects. Gustatory stimulation led
olfaction, and similarly, hemispheric asymmetries have to activation in the insula and perisylvan cortex. Interest-
been shown to be relevant for this sense in non-human ingly, activation in the superior insula was mostly bilateral,
vertebrates. For example, in the rat, the anterior insular while the inferior insula showed a strongly asymmetric ac-
cortex serves as the primary taste cortex, and biochemi- tivation pattern. In this area, left-handed subjects showed
cal lateralization within this brain area is related to novel largely right hemisphere activation, while right-handed
taste learning (243). The authors compared the levels of subjects showed largely left hemisphere activation.
the activity regulated cytoskeleton associated protein
(Arc)/Arg3.1 in the insular cortex of rats following the Taken together, hemispheric asymmetries are a key feature
presentation of familiar or novel tastes. They found of sensory processing and have been demonstrated across
strong individual level lateralization of Arc/Arg3.1 pro- the animal kingdom. This does, however, not necessarily

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

imply that asymmetrical processes indeed start at the level Within the tectofugal pathway, already the first central
of perception and then proceed in feedforward manner to- structures show morphological and neurochemical asym-
wards associative and motor areas. It is also conceivable metries. As briefly mentioned in section II, both the optic
that feedback projections from associative areas could tectum, the nucleus rotundus, and the associated nucleus
asymmetrically increase otherwise symmetrical sensory subpretectalis have larger somata at the visual input level on
processes in a top-down manner. Indeed, there is support the left (145, 180, 304, 305). Soma size correlates with the
for this assumption from research on human language extent of the dendritic arbor (212, 363, 528). Thus struc-
asymmetry (507, 515). tural asymmetries that occur at brain stem and thalamic
level of a sensory system make it likely that bottom-up
So, what comes first, perceptual asymmetries that cause signals are processed in a lateralized manner. Indeed, it was
left-right differences in feedforward manner or cognitive demonstrated that single units coding for ascending feed-
asymmetries that induce lateralized activity patterns in sen- forward information within the nucleus rotundus show
sory areas by feedback projections? Are studies with animal clearly different response patterns between left and right
models able to solve this conundrum? As will be shown in (136, 137).
the following, they can at least add new evidence for the
assumption that both left-right differences of bottom-up But rotundal neurons also integrate lateralized feedback
and top-down circuits exist and that these are inextricably signals from the telencephalon that are relayed via the optic
intertwined during stimulus processing. To discuss this, we tectum (303). Folta et al. (136) and Freund et al. (146) could
will first outline some basic aspects of the pigeons’ visual reveal a lateralized mechanism by which visually driven left
system (see also sect. II). rotundal neurons were significantly modulated by descend-
ing signals from the visual wulst, while single units in the
Structural and behavioral asymmetries were investigated in right rotundus were hardly modified by top-down signals at
the visual system of both chicken (Gallus gallus) and pigeons all (see FIGURE 7A). This implies that only left-sided tha-
(Columba livia) (4, 187, 307, 411, 451). Both show different lamic neurons receive feedback from higher visual areas.
projection asymmetries in their ascending visual pathways. This left-right difference could modify feedforward visual
While pigeons predominantly evince asymmetries in the input to the left hemisphere by experience-based telence-
tectofugal pathway, chickens predominantly show asymme- phalic feedback. Since single neurons in associative areas of
the pigeon forebrain are partly tuned to functional or per-
tries in the thalamofugal system (105–107, 407). Unfortu-
ceptual categories (19, 189, 264, 267), this feedback could
nately, none of these anatomical or behavioral studies can
selectively increase the activity level of those thalamic neu-
properly disambiguate the individual contribution of feedfor-
rons that process category-relevant visual stimuli. Such a
ward and feedback projections for the emergence of left-right
left-sided top-down control of the thalamic visual nucleus
differences. For this, we need electrophysiological data that
of the tectofugal pathway could be a key mechanism to
can resolve input-output relations with extremely high time
enable the left-hemispheric superiority in the discrimination
resolution. Since such kinds of studies using single unit record-
and categorization of visual patterns (180, 190, 519).
ings were only conducted in pigeons, we will in the following
concentrate on the tectofugal pathway in this species.
Indeed, several studies with human subjects could also
reveal that asymmetrical cortical top-down signals are
B. Lateralized Visual Feedforward and able to modify activity patterns of downstream structures
during categorization of various stimulus types (10, 90).
Feedback Circuits in Pigeons
This left-right difference in top-down control seems to
result from the learning of features that are diagnostic for
Visual input reaches the bird forebrain by the tectofugal a category and that are subsequently preactivated in
and the thalamofugal systems, two parallel ascending path- downstream sensory areas (436, 474). At the cellular
ways that are homologous to the extrageniculocortical and level, the results in pigeons reveal that similar processes
geniculocortical systems of mammals, respectively (333). In could also occur already at thalamic level and may mod-
pigeons, the tectofugal system is the most important path- ify hemispheric left-right differences of stimulus catego-
way for visually guided behavior. It ascends from the retina rization.
to the contralateral optic tectum, from there bilaterally to
the thalamic nucleus rotundus and thence to the ipsilateral The nucleus rotundus projects ipsilaterally to the telence-
entopallium in the telencephalon (see FIGURE 7). Any lesion phalic entopallium. Verhaal et al. (495) recorded single-
along this pathway causes major deficits of visuoperceptual and multi-unit responses from the left and right entopallium
and visuocognitive functions (184). The thalamofugal sys- while the animals were working on a color discrimination.
tem ascends along the thalamic nucleus geniculatus lateralis Similar to what has been described by Colombo et al. (84),
to a telencephalic structure called “wulst” (307). Lesions of the authors observed a strong initial phasic burst of ento-
this system create much subtler deficits (74, 186). pallial neurons after perceiving the rewarded color. This

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

burst, however, was only discernable on the left side, pos- learning of visual categories could be acquired faster by the
sibly due to a recruitment of a large number of left entopal- left hemisphere, and this hemisphere would gain control
lial neurons that initially responded to the relevant cue (see over the behavior of the animal during such kinds of dis-
FIGURE 8A). Such a brisk and unilateral avalanche of ento- crimination tasks. This idea is depicted as loops of bold
pallial neurons could ensure a higher level of recruitment of arrows in the left hemisphere of FIGURE 7B.
downstream left-hemispheric associative and motor struc-
tures, thereby enforcing a primarily left hemisphere-based At this point, it is important to emphasize that both avian
visually guided behavior. Indeed, in meta-control experi- hemispheres make their unique contribution to visual cate-
ments, where one hemisphere takes charge of response se- gorization. While pigeons and chicken reach higher speed
lection, it is mostly the left hemisphere of pigeons that dom- and accuracy during color or pattern discrimination with
inates response patterns (146, 475). their right eye/left hemisphere (383, 405, 478, 519), the left
eye/right hemisphere is superior when configurational or
Entopallial neurons project via several visual-associative ar- emotionally charged stimuli are to be distinguished (421,
eas to the arcopallium, a heterogeneous area that function- 484). Thus our model does not impose an overall hemi-
ally corresponds to mammalian premotor areas (222, 431). spheric dominance, but assumes that hemisphere-specific
The arcopallium has descending projections to the optic circuits can dynamically switch back and forth between left
tectum and to motor areas of the brain stem (219, 511). In and right, while processing specific cues.
addition, the arcopallium is the most important hub for
interhemispheric crosstalk via the anterior commissure C. Interim Summary Section III
(285). To reveal the mechanisms of asymmetrical coding
within the arcopallium and between the hemispheres, Xiao • A large number of animals show asymmetries of sen-
and Güntürkün (517) recorded single units from the left and sory processing. At least for animals with more com-
the right arcopallium while the pigeons were working on a plex nervous systems, these findings do not necessarily
color discrimination task. The authors discovered that imply that asymmetries actually start at perceptual
asymmetries of arcopallial functions were due to two key level, since they could also be the result of lateralized
mechanisms. First, a significantly larger number of left com- feedback projections from higher areas.
pared with right arcopallial neurons were recruited by the • Anatomical studies with birds show that already sen-
rewarded stimulus. Second, left arcopallial neurons did not sory processing areas at brain stem and thalamic level
react faster to the conditioned stimulus, but were quicker in display morphological asymmetries. These observa-
triggering the appropriate response. Thus the left hemi- tions make it likely that at least some of the observed
sphere had a clear time-advantage with respect to reaction left-right differences originate from perceptual analy-
time. Possibly, these two effects are causally related. When ses.
a large group of left arcopallial cells are activated, they will • Single unit recording studies in pigeons reveal an intri-
also activate a large proportion of brain stem pre/motor cate lateralized interaction between telencephalic and
neurons on the left side, thereby triggering a fast behavioral thalamic structures. Thus feedforward and feedback
response and gaining control over the movement patterns of projections seem to be intertwined, making a clear-cut
the animal. distinction between asymmetries of bottom-up and
top-down projections futile.
FIGURE 7B provides a hypothetical explanation of how this • At least in this animal model it is conceivable that
evidence could be integrated into a mechanistic hypothesis. depending on task-demands, left- or right-hemispheric
Our model rests on the experimental observation that small loops of feedforward or feedback projections could be
populations of neurons in the avian visual associative areas activated and would temporarily dominate the behav-
code for all kinds of features that are part of different visual ior of the bird.
categories (19, 267, 449). These associative areas are, • All of these events require networks that display char-
among others, also connected with the visual wulst (431). If acteristic left-right differences. This will be the topic of
some visual features correlate with the delivery of reward, the next section.
the wulst could activate those rotundal neurons that process
such visual features via its descending tecto-rotundal path- IV. HEMISPHERIC ASYMMETRIES IN
way. Thus, if a stimulus with these features is seen by the BRAIN CONNECTIVITY
bird, activity patterns of left-sided rotundal neurons will be
amplified (see legend to FIGURE 7B). As a consequence, left- A. Biased Connections: White Matter
sided rotundal projections to the entopallium could activate Tracts Are Lateralized in System-Specific
a burst firing mode that then ignites a large number of left Ways
hemisphere arcopallial cells. These arcopallial sensorimotor
neurons would then have a time-advantage in activating the The two hemispheres of the vertebrate brain are not work-
various brain stem motor nuclei. As a result, feature-based ing in isolation from each other, as they are connected by

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

several interhemispheric fiber systems, so-called commis- average (271). While only placental mammals have a cor-
sures. Commissures exchange neural information between pus callosum, other axonal connections between the two
the left and the right side of the brain (1). In placental halves of the brain integrate information in the brains of
mammals, the largest commissure is the corpus callosum nonplacental mammals and nonmammalian vertebrates
(109, 415). In humans, it has ~200 million mostly myelin- (454). For example, in birds, the commissura anterior is the
ated fibers and is crucial for the integration of sensory and main connection between the two hemispheres (285). Im-
motor information between the hemispheres (2, 132). For portantly, research in split-brain patients (157, 159, 380),
comparison, in rhesus monkeys it has ~56 million fibers on healthy human volunteers (349, 514), and comparative

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

studies between species (372) suggest that commissures are sum would be related to reduced functional lateralization
essential for the emergence of functional hemispheric asym- which has been supported by neuroimaging studies on lan-
metries. guage lateralization (252, 386).

Here, two possible pathways have been suggested (89, 430, Thus both excitatory and inhibitory models for the function
488). On the one hand, commissural exchange of neural of commissures for the emergence of functional hemi-
information could enhance functional hemispheric asym- spheric asymmetries have been supported by some empiri-
metries if the dominant hemisphere inhibits the nondomi- cal evidence. This led van der Knaap and van der Ham (488)
nant side. On the other hand, excitatory exchange of infor- to conclude that both functional relationships can be ob-
mation could also reduce hemispheric asymmetries by served in the corpus callosum. Thus the exact functional
equalizing information levels between the hemispheres. relationship of the corpus callosum depends on the subseg-
This twofold impact of interhemispheric transfer of neural ment of the corpus callosum, the involved fibers, and the
information on the contralateral hemisphere is supported targeted interneurons and brain areas in the contralateral
by neuropharmacological research. For the corpus callo- hemisphere.
sum, it has been shown that most of its axons are glutama-
tergic and thus excitatory (488). However, most of these As the assessment of all of these factors with a decent
temporal resolution in vivo is almost impossible in hu-
axons target inhibitory interneurons, therefore potentially
mans, comparative research in animal model species is
inhibiting the contralateral hemisphere.
essential. Xiao and Güntürkün (517) recorded single
units from the arcopallium of pigeons while the animals
Based on these findings, both excitatory and inhibitory
were working on a color discrimination task. Arcopallial
models for the function of the corpus callosum for the emer-
neurons constitute the majority of fibers of the commis-
gence of hemispheric asymmetries in the human brain have
sura anterior and project to the contralateral side in ho-
been suggested (40). According to the excitatory model sug-
motopic fashion. To reveal the function of these commis-
gested by Ringo et al. (395), functional hemispheric asym-
sural fibers, the authors temporarily inactivated the right
metries arise due to the conduction delay during interhemi- or left arcopallium with lidocaine during the task, while
spheric information transfer. If the conduction delay is lon- simultaneously recording from the contralateral non-
ger, the brain is more likely to perform time-sensitive anesthetized arcopallium. Anesthetizing the visually
processes in one hemisphere to ensure fast behavioral out- dominant left arcopallium drastically increased the vari-
put, leading to stronger hemispheric asymmetries. Support ance of spike times of neurons on the subdominant side.
for this model for example came from a dichotic listening Thus silencing the dominant hemisphere neither de-
study that showed that language lateralization was less pro- creased or increased the activity patterns on the subdomi-
nounced in participants with a larger corpus callosum nant side in an overall fashion. Instead, it turned out that
(521). On the other hand, studies with small-brained ani- the temporal structure of right arcopallial cellular re-
mals with pronounced asymmetries are difficult to reconcile sponses was mostly controlled by the left side. This is
with this account (see sect. I). only possible if both excitation and inhibition had taken
place during normal performance, since left-sided lido-
In contrast to excitatory models, inhibitory models assume caine injections accelerated some right hemisphere neu-
that excitation in the dominant hemisphere leads to inhibi- rons, while slowing down others. Indeed, Ünver et al.
tion of homotopic areas in the nondominant hemisphere via (476) transected the commissura anterior in pigeons and
the corpus callosum (86, 87). Thus a smaller corpus callo- tested the animals before and after commissurotomy in a

FIGURE 8. A: frontal view of the tectofugal pathway. The wulst, a visual telencephalic structure of the thalamofugal pathway, projects via the
tectum to the nucleus rotundus and thereby modifies tectofugal activity patterns. The insets on the left and the right lower corner show results
of studies from Folta et al. (136) and Freund et al. (146). Both could show that light stimulation to the eye evoked a strong activation in the
contralateral rotundus (blue spike activity patterns, depicted as control). Lidocaine injection into the left wulst caused a local anesthesia, reduced
top-down input from the ipsilateral wulst to the tecto-rotundal projection, and diminished light-evoked activation in the left rotundus (red spike
activity pattern, depicted as lidocaine injection). No such effect was discernable for the right side. The insets on top left and top right depict
results from entopallium recordings (495). The red areas depict the activity pattern of entopallial neurons to the non-rewarded color (S-), while
the green areas show activity to the rewarded one (S⫹). The broken rectangle shows the initial burst of left entopallial neurons to the S⫹. Such
a burst is lacking on the right side. B: a hypothetical view on the activity patterns during a task in which a pigeon conducts a visual feature
categorization task. Visual priors established during past category learning events in the telencephalon can modify via the left hemisphere
wulst ¡ tectum ¡ rotundus pathway visual processes of the rotundus. As a result, neural activity patterns that code relevant feature properties
are enhanced, resulting in a strong initial activation of the left entopallium when the relevant stimulus is perceived. Consequently, brain stem
motor areas that code for approach or pecking are activated via the entopallium ¡ arcopallium ¡ brain stem pathway on the left. Processes
in the right half brain (dotted arrows) might be similar, when configuration-based categorization tasks are conducted by the animal. See text for
further details. [Glass brain from Güntürkün et al. (192), with permission from Springer Nature.]

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

meta-control task. This task was chosen since it depends In addition to structural asymmetries in the corpus callo-
on interhemispheric interactions to gain control on the sum, several studies have reported functional asymmetries
other side. As expected, the transection of the commis- in interhemispheric transfer of neuronal information. Both
sura anterior revealed that meta-control is modified by reaction time and electroencephalography (EEG) studies
interhemispheric transmission, although it does not seem have shown that transport of neuronal information from
to depend on it. If the mechanism discovered in the com- the left to the right hemisphere is not identical to transport
missura anterior of pigeons would also apply to the cor- of neuronal information from the right to the left hemi-
pus callosum of mammals, it would give both hemi- sphere (312). A meta-analysis of 16 behavioral studies using
spheres the ability to either delay the other side when the Poffenberger paradigm (see BOX 2) revealed that inter-
competing or to recruit neural resources of the other hemispheric transfer from the right hemisphere (left visual
hemisphere for joint action. Thus the findings of Xiao field stimulus presentation) to the left hemisphere (right
and Güntürkün (517) contradict the assumption that the hand motor response) was 3.3 ms faster than from the left
dominant hemisphere simply inhibits or excites the sub- hemisphere to the right hemisphere (314).
dominant one in an overall fashion.
Marzi et al. (314) concluded that this asymmetry of inter-
hemispheric transfer time of visuomotor information re-
B. Lateralized Commissures in Humans and flects a functional asymmetry of callosal transfer (also see
Birds

Could these findings also shed light on the commissural BOX 2. Commonly used behavioral laterality para-
mechanisms of functional asymmetries in humans? Little is digms in human subjects
known about the human commissura anterior, but the hu- Dichotic listening paradigm: One of the most commonly used
tests to determine language lateralization on the behavioral
man corpus callosum is a key structure for the emergence level. In this task, pairs of auditory stimuli (e.g., two consonant-
and maintenance of brain asymmetries (158). In humans, vowel syllables like /DA/ and /GA/) are presented to the
the corpus callosum itself is not a perfectly symmetric struc- participant simultaneously via headphones, one to each ear.
ture, but shows structural asymmetries that also affect Participants have to indicate which syllable they heard best.
Typically, participants report more of those syllables that had
interhemispheric transfer (313). Based on fiber tractogra-
been presented to the right ear than those presented to the left
phy, the corpus callosum has been subdivided into five dif- ear, a phenomenon termed the right ear-advantage. The right
ferent vertical segments (228), and it has been shown that ear-advantage is thought to reflect left-hemispheric language
these subsegments show different structural asymmetries. lateralization.
Surface-based analysis of fMRI data revealed that the thick- Divided visual field paradigm: In this family of tasks, participants
are seated in front of a computer monitor and asked to focus on
ness of the corpus callosum showed significant rightward
a fixation cross that is presented in the center of the screen. A
asymmetries for the anterior midbody and anterior third stimulus is then presented very briefly on either the left or the
that were particularly pronounced in male subjects (298). right side of the fixation cross, and the participant is asked to
The other three comparisons (posterior midbody, isthmus, respond to this stimulus. Due to the anatomical organization of
splenium) did not show significant structural asymmetries. the visual system, stimuli on the left side of the fixation cross
are processed in the right hemisphere and vice versa. The
The authors concluded that these findings reflect a more divided visual field paradigm utilizes this principle to test
diffuse organization of the corpus callosum in the vertical whether one hemisphere is more efficient in processing a spe-
dimension in the right hemisphere than in the left hemi- cific type of stimuli (e.g., words, faces, or emotional pictures)
sphere. A more recent study comparing structural asymme- than the other.
Poffenberger task: A simple reaction time task that is used to
tries in the corpus callosum between male adolescents with
measure the time the corpus callosum needs to transfer neu-
autism and healthy controls found that autistic subjects ronal information from one hemisphere to the other. Partici-
showed stronger rightward asymmetry than controls in the pants are presented with simple visual stimuli (e.g., white cir-
posterior and anterior midbody (134). Interestingly, the au- cles) that are shown in the left or right visual half field. They have
thors also reported that in healthy controls the asymmetry to react to these stimuli by pressing a button using either the
left or the right hand. There are two types of trials. On “un-
index for the posterior midbody showed a significant posi- crossed” trials, the brain areas that perceive the visual infor-
tive correlation with handedness, indicating that rightward mation and the motor areas controlling the reacting hand are in
asymmetry in this segment of the corpus callosum was as- the same hemisphere. Thus no transfer of neural information
sociated with a rightward shift in handedness. A nonsignif- over the corpus callosum needs to take place before a reaction
icant trend into the same direction was also observed for the can be conducted. On “crossed” trials, the brain areas that
perceive the visual information and the motor areas controlling
anterior midbody. This association between structural the reacting hand are in different hemispheres. Thus informa-
hemispheric asymmetries in the corpus callosum and hand- tion transfer over the corpus callosum is needed before a
edness, a behavioral marker of functional hemispheric reaction can be conducted. Typically, reactions on “crossed”
asymmetry in the motor system, indicates a potential func- trials take longer than those on “uncrossed” trials. By compar-
ing the reaction times on the two types of trials, interhemi-
tional role of callosal asymmetries for functional lateraliza-
spheric transfer time can be estimated.
tion.

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

Ref. 54). Faster right-to-left than left-to-right interhemi- than vice versa. This lateralized interhemispheric interac-
spheric transfer of neuronal information was also con- tion could thus constitute an important “dynamic” compo-
firmed by a meta-analysis of 18 early EEG studies that mea- nent of asymmetric visual processing.
sured interhemispheric transfer times using the P1 or N1
event-related potential (ERP) component after visual stim- Since visual asymmetry in chicken depends less on the
ulation (61). This finding was in general replicated by sub- tectofugal but more on the thalamofugal pathway (see sect.
sequent studies in healthy subjects (25, 254, 274, 311), but II), their organization seems to be different. Their midbrain
seems to be affected by neurodevelopmental disorders. For tectal and posterior commissural was shown to suppress
example, a clinical study found that while healthy controls lateralization for visually guided pecking (366).
showed the expected right-to-left faster left-to-right effects,
no such asymmetry was observed in subjects with attention-
deficit hyperactivity disorder (417). In addition to neurode-
C. Network Asymmetries
velopmental disorders, handedness (247, 340) and eye
dominance (73) have been shown to affect asymmetries in While the corpus callosum is an important structure for the
interhemispheric transfer. emergence of hemispheric asymmetries, it is not the only
white matter structure in the brain that affects functional
Interhemispheric transfer asymmetries have been shown to lateralization. Recent research suggests that functional
interact with functional hemispheric asymmetries for the asymmetries are affected by both inter- and intrahemi-
stimulus material (348). In this study, participants per- spheric projections (353).
formed a matching-to-sample task with either laterally pre-
Asymmetrical organization of intrahemispheric neuronal
sented words (left-hemispheric advantage) or square wave
projections is a basic principle of nervous system organiza-
gratings of spatial frequencies (right-hemisphere advan-
tion in vertebrates and has been reported in both humans
tage), and participants had to react with either their left or
(473) and a multitude of non-human animal species across
their right hand. The authors found that for the spatial
all major classes. These species include the Southern floun-
stimuli, interhemispheric transfer time was faster for left-
der (Paralichthys lethostigma) (269), the frog (Rana escu-
to-right than for right-to-left. In contrast, for verbal stimuli,
lenta) (176), the slide-blotched lizard (Uta stansburiana)
interhemispheric transfer time was faster for right-to-left
(119), the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) (261), the
than for left-to-right. Thus interhemispheric transfer time
bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) (516), the cat (Felis
was shorter when information was transferred from the
silvestris catus) (95), the rat (Rattus rattus) (434), and the
nondominant to the dominant hemisphere for a specific
chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) (68), just to name a few ex-
task. A subsequent ERP study using a letter-matching task amples.
instead of the traditional Poffenberger paradigm also con-
firmed faster right-to-left transmission of verbal informa- In humans, a recent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and
tion (328). graph theory (see BOX 3 for commonly used neuroscien-
tific techniques in human subjects) study aimed to deter-
These data make it likely that the emergence of asymmetries mine the structural network properties of the two hemi-
is related to a dual coding of left-right differences. Thus spheres revealed that the right hemisphere had greater
lateralization cannot be explained entirely by the anatomi- intrahemispheric global efficiency and more interhemi-
cal differences between left and right since a second, more spheric interconnections than the left hemisphere (246).
dynamic component exists that is able to modulate neural The left hemisphere showed a reversed pattern, with
processes between the hemispheres in an asymmetrical more intrahemispheric local connections, particularly in
manner (306). This “dual coding” aspect is also visible in brain regions relevant for language and fine motor coor-
birds. If the posterior and the tectal midbrain commissures, dination.
which connect the optic tecta of both half brains, are tran-
sected, visual lateralization reverses to a left eye dominance, In accordance with these findings, a subsequent graph
and this reversal is proportional to the number of transected theory study reported that left-hemispheric structural
fibers (182). If hemispheric asymmetry can be reversed by networks show increased network efficiency in brain ar-
midbrain commissurotomy, it is likely that this asymmetry eas related to language and motor coordination (66). In
was maintained previously, at least partly, by an asymmet- contrast, within right-hemispheric networks, efficiency
rical interaction between the optic tecta which are of pri- was increased in brain areas relevant for visuospatial
marily inhibitory nature (197, 398). Keysers et al. (260) attention and memory. This is in line with the finding of
tested this hypothesis by recording visually evoked field a relative rightward lateralization of some of the cortical
potentials from right or left intratectal electrodes plus an networks involved in attention (27). Interestingly, left-
electrical stimulation of the contralateral tectum. They dis- right asymmetries in structural white matter networks
covered that the left tectum was able to modify the light- are reflected by differences in lateralization of functional
evoked field potential of the right tectum to a larger extent networks. A recent fMRI resting state connectivity anal-

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

A relevance of left-right differences in connectivity for be-

BOX 3. Commonly used neuroscientific techniques havioral lateralization has also been shown by DTI studies
in humans relating structural left-right asymmetries in individual in-
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging): fMRI is a func- trahemispheric white matter pathways to behavior (see FIG-
tional neuroimaging technique that uses magnetic fields to es- URE 9).
timate brain activity by measuring blood oxygenation in the
brain. Participants are scanned in an MRI scanner. When
neurons in a specific brain area are active, blood flow to that For example, both macro- and microstructure of the arcu-
brain area increases. Therefore, blood oxygenation can be used ate fasciculus, which interconnects various language related
as a proxy for brain activity during a specific task a participant human cortex centers from primary sensory auditory to
performs in the MRI scanner.
motor speech areas ipsilaterally, show pronounced leftward
Resting state fMRI: Resting state fMRI is a specific form of fMRI
in which the participants does not perform any task in the asymmetries (63, 350, 385, 461). Several authors have
scanner, but rest in the scanner. By analyzing which brain linked these structural asymmetries in the arcuate fasciculus
areas are active together in resting state, brain networks can to functional lateralization in the language domain. For
be identified. example, arcuate fasciculus laterality significantly predicted
PET (positron emission tomography): In PET studies, partici-
pants are injected with a radioactive compound, which is taken
leftward language-related activation asymmetries in pread-
up by the brain and other organs. The speed of uptake is related olescent children during fMRI (448). Similar results have
to the compound properties and the metabolic activity of the also been obtained in adult participants (248, 357, 378,
organ. In many PET studies, radioactively labeled glucose is 385, 497). A comparative DTI study in humans, chimpan-
used, which accumulates in activated brain areas due to their
zees, and macaque monkeys (394) also found that leftward
higher metabolic rate. The radioactivity can be localized and
measured by a scanner and is used as a proxy for brain activity. lateralization of the arcuate fasciculus seems to be a typical
DTI (diffusion tensor imaging): DTI is a MRI technique that feature of the human brain that is not observed in other
measures water diffusion in brain tissue to generate images of primates. While all human brains in the study showed ter-
brain structure. It is mostly used to visualize white matter. minations of the arcuate fasciculus in the middle temporal
Fiber tractography: A computational method to analyze DTI
data. Fiber tractography is based on the fact that white
gyrus, only one chimpanzee brain and no macaque brain
matter tracts in the brain hinder the diffusion of water mol- showed arcuate fasciculus terminations in this area. Inter-
ecules. Therefore, they are more likely to move along the estingly, the terminations of the arcuate fasciculus in the
white tract than against it. Using this principle, 3-dimensional middle temporal gyrus in humans showed strong leftward
reconstructions of white matter tracts such as the corpus
lateralization. As the middle temporal gyrus has been linked
callosum can be created.
Graph theory: A computational method to analyze DTI data. to language processing (387), this human-typical asymme-
Graph theory allows the measurement of the efficiency of white try of the arcuate fasciculus might be related to the evolu-
matter networks by estimating the extent to which a specific tion of language.
fiber tract contributes to information exchange.
NODDI (neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging): A
diffusion MRI technique based on DTI that allows the measure-
A link between structural white matter asymmetries and
ment of the density and dispersion of axons and dendrites in the functional language lateralization has also been shown for
brain. the uncinate fasciculus, a lateral association tract that con-
EEG (electroencephalography): EEG is an electrophysiological nects the anterior temporal lobe with the orbitofrontal cor-
method that allows the measurement of electrical brain activity
tex (467). Functionally, the uncinate fasciculus has been
using electrodes that are placed on the participant’s head.
ERP (event-related potential): A method to analyze EEG data. By ascribed linguistic, socio-emotional, and memory functions
repeatedly measuring electrical brain activity in response to a (498a). Recently, the volume of the left uncinate fasciculus
stimulus and averaging these signals, typical brain waves fol- was shown to be positively correlated with leftward lan-
lowing the administration of specific stimuli can be identified. guage asymmetry, as assessed with the dichotic listening
task (358).

ysis found that the left hemisphere showed more intra- An association between white matter asymmetries and be-
hemispheric connections than the right, particularly in havioral asymmetries has also been shown in chimpanzees
brain regions related to language and fine motor coordi- (233). Here, the author conducted MRI in chimpanzees and
nation (172). In contrast, right-hemispheric brain regions found significant leftward asymmetries in 4 of 10 brain
involved in visuospatial and attentional processing regions. Interestingly, depending on their sex, right᎑handed
showed more interhemispheric connections than the re- animals showed significantly greater leftward asymmetries
spective left-hemispheric brain regions. Importantly, the than non᎑right᎑handed animals in several of these brain
degree of rightward or leftward network lateralization areas. Thus white matter asymmetries are associated with
selectively predicted behavioral measures of left- and behavioral motor preferences in chimpanzees.
right-dominant cognitive functions. While the degree of
left-hemispheric lateralization predicted verbal ability, In addition to this evidence for a link between leftward
right-hemispheric lateralization predicted visuospatial structural intrahemispheric white matter asymmetries and
ability. left-dominant functional asymmetry, a DTI tractography

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

FIGURE 9. Schematic depiction of the

principal white matter tracts in the human
brain. A: superior longitudinal fasciculus. B:
arcuate fasciculus. C: uncinate fasciculus. D:
corpus callosum. E: anterior commissure.

study on the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) provided left rotundus than from the left tectum to the right rotundus
evidence for a relevance of rightward structural intrahemi- (187) (FIGURE 7A). Thus, while each rotundus receives bi-
spheric white matter asymmetries for right hemisphere lateral tectal input, the left nucleus rotundus integrates pro-
dominant cognitive functions (465). The SLF consists of portionally more tectal fibers and could thus represent both
three subsegments: SLF I, SLF II, and SLF III. Greater right- visual fields to a larger extent. Indeed, behavioral studies
ward tract volume asymmetry in the SLF II was correlated could demonstrate enhanced bilateral processing in the left
with stronger rightward functional hemispheric asymmetry hemisphere (477). Thus the ascending tectofugal pathway
for visuo-spatial attention, as measured with the line bisec- displays a neuronal organization that creates an asymmet-
tion task (251). rical representation of the visual scene at forebrain level.

A recent comparative neuroimaging study in humans and Further evidence for a link between structural asymmetries
chimpanzees (214) also showed that the SLF as a whole in neuronal projections and functional hemispheric asym-
showed a significant right lateralization in both species. metries is provided by research in the zebrafish (Danio re-
When the three subsegments where analyzed differentially, rio). The zebrafish, a widely used model species in genetic
it was shown that in chimpanzees SLF I showed a significant research, shows pronounced structural asymmetries in the
rightward lateralization, while SLF II and SLF III did not. In epithalamus, the dorsal part of the diencephalon (see sect. II
contrast, humans showed a significant rightward lateraliza-
and FIGURE 2 for a detailed explanation). Together with its
tion for SLF III, a nonsignificant trend for SLF II, and no
associated projection fibers, the epithalamus forms a system
lateralization in SLF I. Also, SLF III showed more prefrontal
that links the ventral midbrain to the forebrain of zebrafish
connectivity in humans than in chimpanzees. Thus, while
(397). Interestingly, both parts of epithalamus show pro-
the overall right lateralization of the SLF seems to be an
nounced structural asymmetries in their fiber projections.
evolutionary conserved feature across humans and chim-
As described above, the pineal complex shows a striking
panzees, the specific asymmetries of the three SLF segments
underwent selection towards greater rightward lateraliza- structural asymmetry as it is situated on the left side of the
tion of SLF III and away from lateralization of SLF I during brain in wild-type fish. Moreover, its projections are also
human evolution. lateralized, as it projects to the lateral subnucleus of the left
but not the right dorsal habenula (155). The habenular
Also, birds show pronounced asymmetries of long white nuclei are bilaterally innervated by the anterior pallium, but
matter tracts and commissures. In pigeons, the tectofugal there is a subset of olfactory bulb fibers that selectively
pathways ascend from the tectum to the rotundus and then innervates only the right habenula (326). Interestingly,
to the entopallium in the telencephalon (FIGURE 6). A crit- asymmetries in zebrafish projections have been shown to
ical component of this system is the bilateral projection affect behavior. For example, the dorsal habenulo-interpe-
from each tectum to the ipsi- and contralateral nucleus ro- duncular pathway has been shown to be involved in the fish
tundus. The majority of tectal projections of both half resuming locomotor activity after freezing following a neg-
brains ascend ipsilaterally onto the nucleus rotundus, while ative stimulus like electric shock. If the left habenular effer-
a subpopulation projects to the contralateral side. This con- ents to interpeduncular pathway were severed, fish showed
tralateral tectorotundal projection is asymmetrically orga- prolonged freezing behavior, while severing the right habe-
nized with more fibers crossing from the right tectum to the nular efferents to interpeduncular pathway did not affect

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

freezing and fish rapidly resumed swimming after shock messages (e.g., emotional state), humans can use language
(112). to basically communicate about any concept (131). As we
have described in section I, it was likely this uniqueness of
Taken together, there is clear evidence for the existence of human language that made scientists falsely believe that
structural hemispheric asymmetries in neuronal projection hemispheric asymmetries are unique to humans. Although
pathways in several vertebrate species. Moreover, these no other species on this planet displays conspecific vocal-
structural white matter asymmetries are likely to be one of ization equal in complexity to human language, birds of the
the factors that influence functional hemispheric asymme- passerine order evolved a communication system which re-
tries. sembles spoken human language in a number of key fea-
tures: bird song (131, 379). Like human language, bird song
consists of discrete elements, which can be combined to
D. Interim Summary Section IV
increasingly complex sequences in a hierarchical fashion
• Interhemispheric transfer of neural information can following specific syntactic rules (35). Furthermore, passer-
have either inhibitory or excitatory effects on the con- ines, like humans, are vocal learners being able to learn new
tralateral hemisphere. Both have been suggested to af- vocalizations by imitating and learning from conspecifics, a
fect functional hemispheric asymmetries. trait shared only by very few vertebrate species (379). Most
• A recent single unit recording study in pigeons chal- importantly for the topic of this review though, Like the
lenges the notion that commissural interactions just human language system, the passerine song system shows
inhibit or excite the contralateral hemisphere. Instead, several forms of lateralization that could be crucial for the
commissural interactions could modify the temporal understanding of the functionality and evolution of lateral-
structure of the contralateral hemispheric activity pat- ized brain functions (361). In this section, we briefly sum-
terns, thereby either delaying the side or synchronizing marize the neuroanatomical basis of human language (with
with it during joint action. a small excursion to non-human primate vocalization) and
• Asymmetries of white matter pathways are evident both bird song, including their lateralization, and show how sim-
on the level of networks, and single tracts like the arcuate ilar these systems and partly their asymmetries are despite a
fasciculus have been shown to affect functional hemi- separate evolution for ~300 mya and a differentially orga-
spheric asymmetries. Comparative research shows that nized pallium (191, 250).
asymmetries of neuronal projections are a general orga-
nizational feature of the vertebrate brain. As we have described in the first section of this review, early
• Studies in birds also stress the notion of a dual coding of anatomical studies in the 19th century revealed a leftward
cerebral asymmetries. Thereby, static coding refers to lateralization of language production (58) and decoding
structural white matter asymmetries of long-distance in- (506). The involved areas, named Broca’s and Wernicke’s
trahemispheric or commissural projections. They are as- area after their discoverers, are key components in a fronto-
sumed to persist for the entire life time. The second, dy- temporal cortical network, required for the perception,
namic aspect of coding are left-right differences of short- comprehension, and production of speech. This speech net-
term interactions via commissural systems. The work is located in the left hemisphere in ~90 –95% of all
combined action of these two processes creates the mo- right-handed humans (69, 265). While lesions in Broca’s
ment-to-moment gestalt of lateralized cognition and be- area in the posterior inferior frontal gyrus impair the ability
havior. to speak (but not to comprehend), lesions in Wernicke’s
• Communication by language or song is possibly the most area in the superior temporal gyrus can massively affect
thoroughly analyzed example for the dynamic structure language comprehension but leaves speech production
of brain asymmetry. This will be outlined in the next mostly unaffected (16, 367).
section.
However, language asymmetries cannot simply be attrib-
V. ASYMMETRIES IN EMOTIONAL AND uted to hemispheric asymmetries in these two areas but to
COGNITIVE SYSTEMS profound differences between left and right hemisphere in
the larger language network (170, 331, 355). In addition to
Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas, the language network con-
A. Speech and Song: A Mechanistic View on tains mainly the primary and secondary auditory cortex in
Asymmetries in Human Language, the temporal lobe and the posterior speech area surround-
Primate Vocalization, and Avian Song ing Wernicke’s area (reviewed in detail in Ref. 148). fMRI
studies have shown that these networks are asymmetrically
Spoken language is a unique trait of humans and is thus activated during language production (23) and perception
considered a hallmark of human evolution (34, 379). While (357). Although networks were active in both hemispheres,
most species capable of conspecific vocalization only pos- the activation of the left network was stronger in most
sess the means to communicate a very limited amount of participants. Schönwiesner et al. (429) could also show

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

functional differences between left and right hemisphere in recall performance, suggesting an advantage of more
language processing. While the left hemisphere seems to be symmetrically organized brains for this task. In a recent
more activated in response to temporal variations (e.g., neuroimaging study, Ocklenburg et al. (352) used
sounds per time unit) of language stimuli, the right hemi- NODDI (neurite orientation dispersion and density im-
sphere responds stronger to spectral (e.g., pitch) variations. aging), which allows in vivo measurement of neurite den-
This fits nicely with data showing that the right hemisphere sity and microstructure in combination with EEG. They
is important for understanding prosody or intonation of could show a higher density of dendrites and axons in the
language [both highly dependent on pitch and tone (133, left posterior temporal lobe which was associated with
290)]. Since music relies strongly on pitch variations, it is faster processing of speech stimuli.
not surprising that several studies found also a higher acti-
vation of the right hemisphere when participants were lis- Taken together, there is a multitude of functional and struc-
tening to music (237, 525). In contrast, the left hemisphere tural asymmetries in the human language system. Whether
is predominantly active during processing of syntactic and they are an evolutionary new feature in humans or have
semantic information, which is highly dependent on tempo- been developed from hemispheric asymmetries in more ba-
ral features (147, 453). Furthermore, lateralization of the sic communication systems can only be distinguished by
language system could also be observed on the behavioral comparative research in non-human animals. Naturally,
level. Studies employing the dichotic listening task in which communication asymmetries have therefore been investi-
two similar sounding syllables are presented simultaneously gated in our closest relatives, non-human primates. Func-
to right and left ear revealed that most participants reported tional and anatomical data from apes and monkeys allow
the syllable presented to right ear, indicating a left-hemi- some valuable insights into the evolution of language asym-
spheric advantage in syllable detection (235, 236, 238, 263, metries. Apes and monkeys do not possess human-like lan-
360, 463). Left-hemispheric advantages for speech can also guage, but they use a varied set of conspecific vocalizations
be observed in visual half-field tasks. Stimuli presented in to communicate. Behavioral studies in Japanese macaques
the right visual half field which is mostly analyzed in left (368) and marmosets (230), PET studies in rhesus ma-
hemisphere are named faster than stimuli occurring in the caques (376) and chimpanzees (460), and an fMRI study in
left visual half field, processed by the right hemisphere (46, rhesus macaques (432) have shown that like in humans the
118, 239, 487). left hemisphere is more active during perception and pro-
duction of these vocalizations. Also on the anatomical level,
In addition to these functional asymmetries, left-hemi- there are surprising similarities in the asymmetrical patterns
spheric language networks and their right-hemispheric ho- between humans and non-human primates. In chimpan-
mologues also differ in their neuroanatomical structure. zees, bonobos, and gorillas, parts of the inferior frontal
Early studies showed that language-relevant areas are often gyrus (constituting Broca’s area in humans) are larger on
larger in the left than in the right hemisphere (151, 152). As the left than on the right side (68), resembling the situation
an example, the planum temporale in the posterior tempo- in humans. Also the planum temporale has been shown to
ral lobe constitutes major parts of Wernicke’s area. Many be larger on the left side in chimpanzees, again reflecting the
studies have shown that this area is larger in the left hemi- human pattern (156, 232). Recently, a leftward asymmetry
sphere, in extreme cases up to 10 times, rendering it one of of the planum temporale has also been shown in the olive
the most pronounced structural asymmetries in the human baboon (Papio anubis), a non-hominid primate (309). De-
brain (164, 258). spite the lack of language in non-human primates, these
data make it very likely that the asymmetry in the neuro-
In addition to these gross anatomical differences, studies anatomical substrate underlying language and a general lat-
could, for example, show asymmetries in cell size (242) and eralization of conspecific vocalization developed already in
cortical column (241) in Wernicke’s area or larger spacing a common ancestor of men, apes, and monkeys and is by no
between neuron clusters in the left superior temporal gyrus means a trait unique to humans (361).
(154). In addition to these neuronal or gray matter asym-
metries, differences between the left and right language sys- But what about animal species more distantly related to
tem are also evident on a connectivity or white matter level. humans? As we have outlined before, complex conspecific
Catani et al. (72) used diffusion tensor imaging to investi- vocalization systems including the ability of vocal imitation
gate connectivity in the language system. They found that in and learning are very rare in the animal kingdom. Only
~62% of all participants a direct connection between Bro- songbirds, parrots, hummingbirds, and several marine
ca’s and Wernicke’s area (or their right-hemispheric coun- mammals seem to share this faculty with humans (41).
terparts) via the arcuate fasciculus is only present on the left While data on asymmetries of the vocalization system (or
side. In contrast, an indirect connection between the two even on the system itself) are rather rare in the latter three,
areas over the posterior speech area was present in both a compelling amount of data have been collected proving
hemispheres. Interestingly, the degree of lateralization in that the song system in passerine species is, like the language
the direct connection was negatively correlated with verbal system in humans, lateralized. Due to their differently or-

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

ganized forebrain (birds lack a cortex but instead possess a is not as robust as in humans, with strength and side of
nuclear organized pallium, Ref. 183), also their vocaliza- lateralization being highly dependent on stimulus type,
tion system appears rather different from the human case at prior experience, and age. In zebra finches being deprived of
first glance. However, there are some similarities. In song songs from other individuals and instead listening to songs
birds, auditory information from the inner ear is relayed of another song bird for a couple of days, responses to
over several brain stem nuclei and the thalamus to the pri- conspecific songs are lateralized to the left NCM (520). In
mary auditory area of the avian pallium, the field L complex juvenile zebra finches, tutor song (a song from an individual
(41, 191). The field L complex projects to the associative from which the juvenile learned its vocalization repertoire,
auditory areas nidopallium caudomediale (NCM) and cau- normally the father) but not songs from unfamiliar conspe-
domedial mesopallium (CMM), which are key components cifics cause a left-lateralized activation in NCM (330). The
for song perception, song recognition, and auditory mem- idea that NCM lateralization is dependent on stimulus type
ory (41, 160, 259, 323, 493) (see FIGURE 10). is supported by a recent fMRI study revealing a change in
asymmetry when structural or temporal parameters of the
Due to their functional similarities, NCM has been sug- song stimulus are changed with a clear right-hemispheric
gested to be the functional equivalent to Wernicke’s area in sensitivity to spectral changes (492). A study in juvenile
humans (330). This auditory system is tightly intercon- zebra finches suggested that left-sided NCM lateralization
nected with the so-called song system, comprising as core in response to song might be triggered by early life experi-
telencephalic components the pallial areas LMAN (see leg- ence. In this study, birds without any prior contact to song
end of FIGURE 8 for full names), HVC, RA, and the striatal did not show an asymmetry in NCM activation in response
area X. These nuclei play crucial roles in song production, to a first time song exposure. Interestingly, when these naive
song learning, and song plasticity (110, 347, 423); for more birds were stimulated with rhythmic noise or were kept
details on the song system, see the reviews in References 41, silent, they displayed a more pronounced right-sided NCM
266. Since it plays a central role in song learning and pro- activation (79).
duction, HVC was suggested to be the analogous region to
Broca’s area in humans (330). Several studies in zebra Although some studies show a lateralization of the sug-
finches (Taeniopygia guttata) but also other passerines have gested Broca’s area analogue HVC in response to song
shown that the perception of song seems to be lateralized in stimuli to the left side (330), a clear dominance of one
the brain. Electrophysiological and fMRI studies in zebra hemisphere for conspecific vocalization like in humans
finches revealed a stronger activation in the right than in the has not been confirmed in zebra finches. Albeit early
left NCM in response to song but also to other stimuli, with studies found stronger effects on song production after
differences being most pronounced in response to conspe- lesioning of the nerve controlling the right syrinx, the
cific or own song stimuli (371, 499). However, this pattern vocal organ of birds (513), more recent studies could

FIGURE 10. Left: schematic overview of the song system in zebra finches. Like for language in humans, the
perception and production of song in zebra finches is controlled by a network of telencephalic areas. Even
though birds do not possess a layered cortex but a nuclear organized pallium, functional properties of these
areas are very similar to humans. Furthermore, key structures of this system like the nidopallium caudomediale
(NCM, green), important for song perception, song recognition, and auditory memory, or the HVC (proper
name, orange), critical for song learning and production, are to some extent functionally lateralized. See text
for further information. For reasons of clarity, only the core nuclei of the song system have been depicted.
CMM, caudomedial mesopallium; DLM, dorsal lateral nucleus; LMAN, lateral magnocellular nucleus of the
anterior nidopallium; MLd, dorsal lateral nucleus of the mesencephalon; OV, nucleus ovoidalis; RA, robust
nucleus of the arcopallium. Right: schematic overview of the language system in humans.

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

show that control of song production is likely shared review, we will omit these data here and would refer the
between hemispheres. Within this process, HVC activa- interested reader to the review on conspecific vocalization
tion seems to switch rapidly between song production, by Ocklenburg et al. (361).
with both sides composing individual parts or compo-
nents of a song (295, 425, 502).
B. Sadness and Hope: Brain Asymmetries in
Even though the lateralization pattern of the song/language Emotional and Social Processing Across
system is different in zebra finches and humans, there are Vertebrates
still some interesting similarities. In both humans and zebra
finches, specific aspects or qualities of auditory stimuli seem Functional hemispheric asymmetries in emotion processing
to be predominantly processed by one hemisphere. As we are one of the key topics in laterality research in humans,
have described above, in humans the left hemisphere is and several somewhat contradicting theoretical accounts
more responsive to structural features of language like se- have been brought forward to explain their emergence
mantic or syntax information while the right hemisphere (104). Compared with other areas of laterality research,
responds stronger to temporal features like prosody or in- hemispheric asymmetries in emotion processing historically
tonation (17, 331, 375). In zebra finches, at least one study had a strong focus on research in humans and many theo-
showed that the right hemisphere is more sensitive to gen- ries have been built on data obtained in human subjects.
eral spectral changes, while several other studies reported This has several reasons. Up until the 1980s, it was widely
differential lateralization patterns dependent on more spe- believed that human handedness and other forms of func-
cific stimulus types (e.g., own song, tutor song, rhythmic tional hemispheric asymmetries were species-unique traits
(504). This notion has been clearly refuted for limb prefer-
noise). The effect that experience during the juvenile stage
ences (452, 498) and functional lateralization of species-
can alter the direction or occurrence of vocalization asym-
typical vocalizations (361) by a large number of studies in
metries in zebra finches can also be seen in humans to some
different non-human-animal species. However, the idea
extent. Studies with congenital deaf participants showed a
that only humans show emotional lateralization might have
switch of the dominant hemisphere to the right side when
prevented researchers from investigating this feature in
presented with visual word perception task (458, 459).
non-human animals on a large scale. Moreover, for lateral-
Moreover, an fMRI study in deaf participants also showed
ization of emotion, its assessment in non-human animals
changes in lateralization of brain activation in the superior
seems to be more complicated than for motor preferences
temporal gyrus, a brain area mostly involved in processing
like handedness. This is mainly because animals cannot
auditory input in hearing people (472). In contrast to hear-
communicate their emotions verbally, and assessing emo-
ing controls, deaf participants showed an increasing activa- tions often relies on self-report (e.g., when asking partici-
tion in the right superior temporal cortex during three de- pants whether pictorial stimuli that were meant to induce
cision making tasks, about the phonology and semantics of certain emotion actually induced any emotions). Thank-
British Sign Language and the physical shape of objects. In fully, in the last decade, a stronger focus on using develop-
the phonology task, deaf participants additionally showed a mental, neuroscientific, or observational techniques to as-
larger activation in the left superior temporal cortex. In sess hemispheric asymmetries of emotion processing in non-
addition, it has been shown that when participants learn a human animals emerged (280). These comparative studies
completely new tonal language, they at first show almost are particularly important to determine evolutionary con-
bilateral activation in the superior temporal gyrus. The served patterns of emotional lateralization in humans and
more they get exposed to the new language, the more brain disambiguate between the different, sometimes contradict-
activation in the superior temporal gyrus becomes left-lat- ing, theoretical models for it.
eralized (373). Thus experience is a critical factor for left-
ward asymmetry of vocalization processing, not only in Historically, the first two models for emotional laterality in
zebra finches but also in humans. humans that were proposed were the right hemisphere
model and the valence model. The right hemisphere model
Concluding this paragraph, we would like to mention that assumes that the right hemisphere is dominant for process-
also passerine species other than zebra finches, e.g., Euro- ing of all types of positive and negative emotions. Emo-
pean starlings (Sturnus vulgaris; Ref. 102), canaries (Seri- tional valence thus does not affect emotional lateralization.
nus canaries; Ref. 195), or Bengalese finches (Lonchura The idea that the right hemisphere plays an important role
striata domestica; Ref. 527), possess asymmetries in their in emotion processing in humans has been supported by
auditory and song system. However, these partly differ in various empirical studies in both healthy subjects and dif-
side and strength from the zebra finch. Furthermore, few ferent clinical populations. One of the lines of evidence
studies also reported evidence for a lateralization of conspe- supporting this idea comes from research in brain-damaged
cific vocalization for example in sea lions (Zalophus cali- patients. For example, it has been shown that patients with
fornianus) (47), mice (116), and maybe even fish (Ictalurus left-hemispheric brain damage show a strong negative emo-
punctatus) (129). Due to the limited amount of space in this tional reaction, an appropriate emotional reaction to a cat-

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

astrophic event. In contrast, patients with right-hemi- Early support for the notion that the left hemisphere is
spheric brain damage were emotionally indifferent, an in- dominant for positive emotions and the right hemisphere is
appropriate reaction to a catastrophic event such as dominant for negative emotions was provided in a study
suffering brain damage (150). using the Wada test, i.e., anesthesia of one hemisphere and
subsequent assessment of behavioral reactions (464). Anes-
In healthy participants, several authors have used visual thesia of the right hemisphere and thus control of emotion
half-field experiments to investigate functional hemispheric by the left hemisphere led to euphoric, i.e., intensely posi-
asymmetries for the processing of emotional expressions of tive, emotional states. In contrast, anesthesia of the left
human faces (272, 288, 450). They consistently reported an hemisphere and thus control of emotion by the right hemi-
advantage of the right hemisphere. Moreover, dichotic lis- sphere led to catastrophic, i.e., intensely negative, emo-
tening studies with emotional words in which participants tional states. Further empirical support was provided by
were instructed to attend to the emotional content consis- behavioral studies. For instance, a visual half-field study on
tently showed a shift towards a left-ear advantage com- discrimination of emotional face expressions found that
pared with verbal tasks, indicating a dominance of the right participants were better when discriminating positive ex-
hemisphere for emotion processing (62, 171, 194). In addi- pressions with the left hemisphere and negative expressions
tion to these behavioral studies, early neuroimaging studies with the right hemisphere (249). The most convincing body
have shown a right hemisphere superiority for the process- of evidence for the valence model comes from studies using
ing of acoustic emotion prosody (512) and attending to the EEG alpha asymmetries to gain an estimate of brain activ-
emotional expression of a face (336). Complementing these ity. In principle, it is assumed that the EEG alpha band
studies in healthy volunteers, studies in neurological pa- reflects the absence of cognitive activity so that a leftward
tients have shown that lesions in the right hemisphere are alpha asymmetry indicates greater right-hemispheric acti-
associated with larger impairments in the identification or vation and vice versa (391, 443). Several studies have
shown stronger left-hemispheric activation during process-
discrimination of emotions than lesions in the left hemi-
ing of positive emotions and stronger right-hemispheric ac-
sphere (3, 44).
tivation during processing of negative emotions (99, 117,
138, 500). However, evidence from functional neuroimag-
Evidence for the right hemisphere model of emotional
ing studies is somewhat less supporting of the valence hy-
lateralization also comes from comparative research. For
pothesis. While some earlier fMRI studies supported the
example, in non-human primates, several studies investi-
idea that overall brain activity is lateralized to the left hemi-
gated oro-facial asymmetries when animals produced
sphere for positive stimuli and lateralized to the right for
emotional and nonemotional calls. The idea behind this
negative stimuli (67), more recent fMRI studies generally
is that the right hemisphere controls the muscles coordi-
show more region-specific lateralization during emotion
nating left hemiface movement so that a leftward asym-
processing that is only partly in line with the valence model.
metry in oro-facial movements indicates a right-hemi-
For example, Bereha et al. (33) found that during positive
spheric asymmetry for communication of emotion. With stimulus processing there was significant leftward lateral-
the use of this paradigm, a right hemisphere specializa- ization in brain activation in the medial prefrontal cortex,
tion for facial emotion expression has been shown for but also rightward lateralization of brain activation in the
chimpanzees (127), Olive baboons (501), and rhesus ma- premotor cortex and the temporo-occipital junction. For
caques (208). negative stimulus processing, the authors reported that in
line with the valence model, there was rightward lateraliza-
In contrast to the right hemisphere model, the valence tion of brain activation in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
model of emotional lateralization assumes that emotional and in the temporo-parietal junction. However, in the
valence is critical for emotional lateralization in the sense amygdala, the uncus, and the middle temporal gyrus, there
that the right hemisphere is dominant for negative emotions was significant leftward lateralization of brain activation.
and the left hemisphere is dominant for positive emotions
(5, 217, 437). In general, the notion that only the right Evidence supporting the valence model also comes from
hemisphere is involved in emotional processing is strongly comparative studies specifically investigating both posi-
contradicted by recent neuroimaging studies. For example, tively and negatively valenced emotions in the same species,
a comprehensive meta-analysis of 54 fMRI and PET studies e.g., in dogs (438). Dogs can express emotions by tail-wag-
assessing lateralization of the amygdala, a central brain ging, and it has been shown that if a dog sees its owner (a
structure in emotion processing, during emotion processing situation with positive emotional valence), the animal
actually found that the left amygdala actually was more shows more rightward tail-wagging, indicating more left-
often active during emotion processing than the right (20). hemispheric brain activity (388). In the same study, seeing
Thus the idea that the left and the right hemisphere have an unfamiliar dominant dog (a situation with negative emo-
differential roles in emotion processing is supported by the tional valence) leads to more leftward tail-wagging, indicat-
empirical evidence. ing more right-hemispheric brain activation. In a later

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study, it was also shown that other dogs react to left- or avoidance model) assumes that in mammals, the left hemi-
rightward asymmetric tail-wagging (440). Dogs were sphere is dominant for approach behavior and the right
shown videos of other dogs showing leftward or rightward hemisphere is dominant for avoidance or withdrawal be-
tail-wagging. They showed higher cardiac activity and more havior (100, 201). Since most negative emotions like fear or
anxious behavior when observing conspecifics that wagged disgust are linked to avoidance, and positive emotions like
their tails to the left, indicating negative emotional valence. happiness are linked to approach, this model makes predic-
tions that are largely in line with the valence model, with
Moreover, a recent review integrating research on emo- one important exception: anger is a negative emotion that is
tional lateralization in non-human animals also supported associated with approach-related behavior, e.g., moving to-
the valence model. Leliveld et al. (280) identified five major wards an opponent to attack that person. Here, the valence
fields of research on emotional lateralization in animals. model would predict right-hemispheric lateralization be-
These include fear/anxiety, aggression, sex, responses to cause anger is a negative emotion, but the motivational
food rewards, and positive social interactions. Fear/anxiety direction model would assume leftward lateralization be-
has been investigated in studies on lateralization in escape cause anger is approach-related. A number of EEG studies
behavior when an animal is facing a predator. For example, have specifically investigated this assumption and found
the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) has been pro- greater left than right frontal cortical activity during anger,
posed to have a left eye preference when inspecting preda- supporting the motivational direction model rather than the
tors, indicating right hemisphere dominance for this behav- valence model (198, 200 –203). When looking at the com-
ior (42). Aggression has for example be investigated in a parative lateralization of aggression data presented by Le-
study on aggressive courtship rejection in female striped liveld et al. (280), most Mammalian, reptilian, and amphib-
plateau lizard (Sceloporus virgatus) that showed that fe- ian species show a right hemisphere and only fishes show a
males of this species showed a left eye/right hemisphere left hemisphere bias. However, other authors also presented
dominance for conspecific aggression towards male animals evidence for control of aggression in the right hemisphere in
(223). Sex has for example been investigated in a study in fish (39). Thus the comparative data would rather support
sexually active male Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguicu- the valence model than the motivational direction model. In
latus) that showed male courtship vocalizations were posi- Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), predator es-
tively correlated with the volume of the left hypothalamic cape responses are biased to the left side, indicating a right
sexually dimorphic area, pars compacta (SDApc) nucleus, hemispheric dominance for avoidance behavior. In con-
but not the right (229). Food reward has, for example, been trast, feeding behavior was lateralized to the right side,
investigated in a study on food smelling in dogs that showed indicating a left-hemispheric dominance for approach be-
a preference for the right nostril (controlled by the left hemi- havior, as predicted by the motivational direction model
sphere) when initially smelling new food odors (441). Pos- (291).
itive social interactions have for example been investigated
in a study in marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). These animals A model that is conceptually similar to the motivational
showed a right hemimouth/left hemisphere dominance for direction model is the “Behavioral Inhibition System and
social contact calls (230). Importantly, Leliveld et al. (280) the Behavioral Activation System” (BIS/BAS) model. Ac-
found that with the possible exception of fish, all classes of cording to this model, the left hemisphere is dominant for
vertebrates (amphibians, reptilians, birds, and mammals) behavioral activation while the right hemisphere is domi-
show a similar pattern of emotional lateralization that is nant for behavioral inhibition (455), which would also lead
largely in line with the valence model. While the right hemi- to left-hemispheric dominance for anger as opposed to
sphere is dominant for the processing of negative emotions other negative emotions. Like for the motivational direction
such as fear and aggression, the left hemisphere is dominant model, there is EEG data supporting this model, e.g., it has
for positive emotions such as those elicited by receiving a been shown that individuals with greater behavioral activa-
food reward. Recently, it was also shown that the red ma- tion system sensitivity show greater left-frontal activity
son bee (Osmia bicornis) shows a rightward asymmetry for (199).
aggressive behavior (408). Moreover, the honeybee (Apis
mellifera) shows leftward asymmetry for positive social Taken together, all four models for emotional lateralization
contacts (409) and a rightward asymmetry to turn away are supported by some empirical evidence but also contra-
from an alarm pheromone (412). Thus evidence in insects dicted to some extent by other empirical evidence. For ex-
also supports the valence model. ample, a recent study comparing the right hemisphere
model, valence model, and motivational direction model
In addition to the right hemisphere and the valence model, for facial emotion processing came to the conclusion that
two newer models for emotional lateralization have been the empirical data do not unequivocally support any of
proposed in humans. These models make somewhat similar these three models (335). Therefore, it has been suggested
predictions but on different theoretical grounds. The moti- that it might not be an optimal approach to pitting these
vational direction model (also sometimes called approach/ hypotheses against each other, but that researchers should

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 GÜNTÜRKÜN ET AL.

instead focus on identifying specific contributions of left- • Although the left hemisphere shows a dominance for
and right-hemispheric brain networks in specific situations processing language, the right hemisphere contributes
involving emotions (262, 381). For example, one fMRI specific aspects to language (e.g., prosody). This differ-
study using a chimeric faces task reported general activation ence is likely based on a general left hemispheric ad-
of the posterior right hemisphere during non-conscious per- vantage to process temporal and a right hemispheric
ception of emotional faces, regardless of the affective va- advantage to process structural features.
lence of these faces (262). This finding was in line with the • Song of passerine birds shows many similarities to hu-
right hemisphere model. However, the authors also re- man language including similarities in the underlying
ported valence-specific activations in bilateral anterior neuronal structure. Like in humans, the perception and
brain regions that were in line with the valence model. The to some extent production of song are lateralized, al-
authors concluded that the right hemisphere model and the though this lateralization seems to be more experience
valence model are not really in opposition to each other, but dependent.
instead are both correct as they reflect two differentially • While research on emotional lateralization initially
lateralized brain networks within the complex distributed concentrated on humans, in the last decade, a stronger
neural network controlling emotion processing. They sug- focus to development neuroscientific or observational
gested that one emotion network in the posterior right techniques to assess hemispheric asymmetries of emo-
hemisphere is dominant for emotional perception in gen- tion processing in non-human animals led to an in-
eral, independent of valence. This system is interrelated crease of comparative studies in this field.
with a second emotion network in the posterior left hemi- • Several models have been brought forward for emo-
sphere that involves valence-specific activation of the or- tional lateralization. Among them are the right-hemi-
sphere model that predicts that the right hemisphere is
bitofrontal cortex and the ventral striatum. In line with this
dominant for all emotions and the valence model that
idea, other authors also suggested that the right hemisphere
predicts that the right hemisphere is dominant for neg-
model and the valence model (or the motivational direction
ative emotions while the left hemisphere is dominant
model) reflect different subsystems within a complex dis-
for positive emotions. Both have been supported by
tributed emotion network (217, 381, 400, 424). Within this
empirical evidence.
network, the right hemisphere model reflects activation of
• Comparative research indicated that most classes of
the right posterior cortex during emotion perception, while
non-human animals show a similar pattern of emo-
the valence model reflects valence specific activations asso-
tional lateralization that is largely in line with the va-
ciated with emotional experience that have been linked to lence model. While the right hemisphere is dominant
the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In addition, it has been for the processing of negative emotions such as fear
suggested that all of these models of emotional lateraliza- and aggression, the left hemisphere is dominant for
tion neglect an important aspect of emotion processing positive emotions such as those elicited by receiving a
in the human brain: inhibitory executive control processes food reward.
in the prefrontal cortex (173). This led to the development
of the asymmetric inhibition model of emotional lateraliza-
tion that specifically takes into account such emotion-cog- VI. SUMMARY
nition interactions.
After the discovery of the asymmetry of the human brain,
Taken together, evidence in humans suggests that there are more than a century had to pass until finally left-right dif-
at least two differentially lateralized neural subsystems un- ferences of brain and behavior in other animals became a
derlying emotion processing. One follows the prediction of topic of detailed research. Within the short period since
the right hemisphere model and is mostly relevant for emo- then, several animal models were established that increas-
tion perception, while the other follows the predictions of ingly enabled the reconstruction of the complex interac-
the valence model and is mostly related to the emotional tions between genes, environment, and epigenetic factors
experience. This second subsystem seems to be evolutionary that shape the developing brain into its adult form. Now,
conserved across vertebrates. with the help of these animal models, key frontiers should
be tackled that are impossible to solve by studying human
subjects only. One of these key challenges of the next de-
C. Interim Summary Section V cade will be the decoding of the molecular epigenetic pro-
cesses that link environmental factors to changes in gene
• In humans, production, perception, and comprehen- expression and finally to brain development. Most epige-
sion of language is controlled by a fronto-temporal netic processes like methylation of CpG islands in the DNA,
cortical network, which is in most humans lateralized histone modification, or posttranscriptional regulation by
to the left side. Broca’s area (language production) and microRNAs are to some extent tissue-specific and time-
Wernicke’s area (language comprehension) are the cen- sensitive. Therefore, comparative research in non-human
tral components of this network. model species is essential to gain an understanding of this

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 BRAIN LATERALIZATION

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