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    Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2009 Apr 12;364(1519):955-63.

    Ascending and descending mechanisms of visual lateralization in pigeons.

    Source

    Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute for Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, Bochum, Germany.

    Abstract

    Brain asymmetries are a widespread phenomenon among vertebrates and show a common behavioural pattern. The right hemisphere mediates more emotional and instinctive reactions, while the left hemisphere deals with elaborated experience-based behaviours. In order to achieve a lateralized behaviour, each hemisphere needs different information and therefore different representations of the world. However, how these representations are accomplished within the brain is still unknown. Based on the pigeon's visual system, we present experimental evidence that lateralized behaviour is the result of the interaction between the subtelencephalic ascending input directing more bilateral visual information towards the left hemisphere and the asymmetrically organized descending telencephalic influence on the tecto-tectal balance. Both the bilateral representation and the forebrain-modulated information processing might explain the left hemispheric dominance for complex learning and discrimination tasks.

    PMID:
    19064354
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC2666082
    Free PMC Article

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