Functional lateralization in the human brain was first identified in the classic observations by Broca in the 19th century. Only one hundred years later, however, research on this topic began anew, discovering that humans share brain lateralization not only with other mammals, but with other vertebrates and even invertebrates. Studies on lateralization have also received considerable attention in recent years due to their important evolutionary implications, becoming an important and flourishing field of investigation worldwide among ethnologists and psychologists. The chapters of this book concern the emergence and adaptive function of lateralization in several aspects of behavior for a wide range of vertebrate taxa. These studies span from how lateralization affects some aspects of fitness in fishes, or how it affects the predatory and the exploratory behavior of lizards, to navigation in the homing flights of pigeons, social learning in chicks, the influence of lateralization on the ontogeny process of chicks, and the similarity of manual lateralization (handedness) between humans and apes, our closest relatives.

No longer viewed as a characteristic unique to humans, brain lateralization is considered a key property of most, if not all, vertebrates. This field of study provides a firm basis from which to examine a number of important issues in the study of brain and behaviour. This book takes a comparative and integrative approach to lateralization in a wide range of vertebrate species, including humans. It highlights model systems that have proved invaluable in elucidating the function, causes, development, and evolution of lateralization. The book is arranged in four parts, beginning with the evolution of lateralization, moving to its development, to its cognitive dimensions, and finally to its role in memory. Experts in lateralization in lower vertebrates, birds, non-primate mammals, and primates have contributed chapters in which they discuss their own research and consider its implications to humans. The book is suitable for researchers, graduates and advanced undergraduates in psychology, neuroscience and the behavioral sciences.

Left-right asymmetries of structure and function are a common organization principle in the brains of humans and non-human vertebrates alike. While there are inherently asymmetric systems such as the human language system or the song system of songbirds, the impact of structural or functional asymmetries on perception, cognition and behavior is not necessarily limited to these systems. For example, performance in experimental paradigms that assess executive functions such as inhibition, planning or action monitoring is influenced by information processing in the bottom-up channel. Depending on the type of stimuli used, one hemisphere can be more efficient in processing than the other and these functional cerebral asymmetries have been shown to modulate the efficacy of executive functions via the bottom-up channel. We only begin to understand the complex neuronal mechanisms underlying this interaction between hemispheric asymmetries and cognitive systems. Therefore, it is the aim of this Research Topics to further elucidate how structural or functional hemispheric asymmetries modulate perception, cognition and behavior in the broadest sense.

Lateralization of brain and behaviour is now considered a common feature for all vertebrates, from agnathans and fish to birds and mammals. An important place in this field of research is occupied by amphibians and reptiles - the key classes to understand evolution of lateralization of behaviour and its relations to structure and development. This special issue of Lateralitycomprises a collection of papers, presented at the International Symposium on Behavioural and Morphological Asymmetries in Amphibians and Reptiles - the first of its kind. This is the first attempt to integrate and overview the works in the young field of study of lateralization in herpetological subjects, which is only about five years old. The issue is focused on amphibians (as reptiles are less involved so far) and specifically on the relations of behavioural and morphological directional asymmetries. It might serve as a starting point for future meetings and raise a number of evolutionary and developmental questions, directing the ways of prospective research. The issue consists of six review and original papers written by invited experts in the field. It provides references to almost all the available literature on the subject. Being a 'state-of-the-art' book, the issue is suitable for both advanced students and researchers specializing in behavioural sciences, neuroscience, developmental biology and morphology, who might wish to join the study of asymmetry in lower tetrapods for deeper insights into its evolution, development and function.ons, directing the ways of prospective research. The issue consists of six review and original papers written by invited experts in the field. It provides references to almost all the available literature on the subject. Being a 'state-of-the-art' book, the issue is suitable for both advanced students and researchers specializing in behavioural sciences, neuroscience, developmental biology and morphology, who might wish to join the study of asymmetry in lower tetrapods for deeper insights into its evolution, development and function.

This volume grew out of the 2nd International Symposium on Behavioral and Morphological Asymmetries, which took place in St. Petersburg (Russia) in September 2004 at the St. Petersburg State University under the patronage of the St. Petersburg Society of Naturalists. The Symposium is the descendant of a satellite event with a similar name of the 4t

Cerebral Lateralization and Cognition: Evolutionary and Developmental Investigations of Motor Biases, Volume 238, the latest release in the Progress in Brain Research series, discusses interdisciplinary research on the influence of cerebral lateralization on cognition within an evolutionary framework. Chapters of note in this release include Evolutionary Perspectives: Visual/Motor Biases and Cognition, Manual laterality and cognition through evolution: An archeological perspective, Laterality in insects, Motor asymmetries in fish, amphibians and reptiles, Visual biases and social cognition in animals, Mother and offspring lateralized social interaction across animal species, Manual bias, personality and cognition in common marmosets and other primates, and more. Presents investigations of cognitive development in an evolutionary framework Provides a better understanding of the causal relationship between motor function and brain organization Brings clinicians and neuroscientists together to consider the relevance of motor biases as behavioral biomarkers of cognitive disorders Includes future possibilities for early detection and motor intervention therapies

This book is a collection of papers written by leaders in the field of lateralized brain function and behaviour in non-human animals. The papers cover the asymmetry of brain mechanisms and behaviour in a wide range of both vertebrate and invertebrate species. Each paper focuses on one of the following topics: the link between population-level lateralization and social behaviour; the processes in the avian brain that permit one brain hemisphere to take control of behaviour; lateralized attention to predators and the common pattern of lateralization in vertebrate species; visual and auditory lateralization; influences that alter the development of lateralization—specifically, the effect of temperature on the development of lateralization in sharks; and the importance of understanding lateralization when considering both the training and welfare of dogs. Collectively, these studies address questions of why different species have asymmetry of brain and behaviour, how it develops, and how this is dealt with by these different species. The papers report on the lateralization of different types of behaviour, each going beyond merely reporting the presence of asymmetry and shedding light on its function and on the mechanisms involved in its expression.

Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, Third Edition offers the latest and most valuable information on animal science and behavioral genetics, carrying on the book’s legacy since its original publication in 1998. This book synthesizes research from behavioral genetics and animal and veterinary science, bridging the gap between these fields. The objective is to show that principles of behavioral genetics have practical applications to agricultural and companion animals. The continuing domestication of animals is a complex process whose myriad impacts on animal behavior are commonly under-appreciated. Genetic factors play a significant role in both species-specific behaviors and behavioral differences exhibited by individuals in the same species. Leading authorities explore the impact of increased intensities of selection on domestic animal behavior. Rodents, cattle, pigs, sheep, horses, herding and guard dogs, and poultry are all included in these discussions of genetics and behavior, making this book useful to veterinarians, livestock producers, laboratory animal researchers and technicians, animal trainers and breeders, and any researcher interested in animal behavior. Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals, Third Edition is the most valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in animal and veterinary science, animal behavior, genetics, ethology, and similar fields. Advanced undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines will also benefit from the global expertise featured in this newest edition. Provides full and thorough updates to all chapters, ensuring dissemination of the latest data and research Synthesizes research from behavioral genetics, animal science, and veterinary literature Broaches fields of behavior genetics and behavioral research Includes practical applications of principles discovered by behavioral genetics researchers Covers many species ranging from pigs, dogs, foxes, rodents, cattle, horses, and cats

Cephalopods usually have large and mobile eyes with which they constantly scan their environment. The eyes of cephalopods are single-chamber eyes which show resemblance to vertebrate eyes. However there are marked differences such as the cephalopod eye having an everted retina instead of an inverted retina found in vertebrates. Their visual system allows the cephalopods, depending on species, to discriminate objects on the basis of their shapes or sizes, images from mirror images or to learn from the observation of others. The cephalopod visual system is also polarization sensitive and controls camouflage, an extraordinary ability almost exclusive to all cephalopods; they are capable of rapidly adapting their body coloration as well as altering their body shape to any background, in almost any condition and even during self-motion. Visual scene analysis ultimately leads to motor outputs that cause an appropriate change in skin coloration or texture by acting directly on chromatophores or papillae in the skin. Mirroring these numerous functions of the visual system, large parts of the cephalopod brain are devoted to the processing of visual information. This research topic focuses on current advances in the knowledge of cephalopod vision. It is designed to facilitate merging questions, approaches and data available through the work of different researchers working on different aspects of cephalopod vision. Thus the research topic creates mutual awareness, and facilitates the growth of a field of research with a long tradition - cephalopod vision, visual perception and cognition as well as the mechanisms of camouflage. This research topic emerged from a workshop on “Vision in cephalopods” as part of the COST Action FA1301.

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