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Rethinking brain asymmetries in humans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 September 2005

Bianca Dräger*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, 48149Münster, Germanyhttp://neurologie.uni-muenster.de/ger/mitarbeiter/breitenstein/http://neurolog.uni-muenster.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=34
Caterina Breitenstein*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, 48149Münster, Germanyhttp://neurologie.uni-muenster.de/ger/mitarbeiter/breitenstein/http://neurolog.uni-muenster.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=34
Stefan Knecht*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, University of Münster, 48149Münster, Germanyhttp://neurologie.uni-muenster.de/ger/mitarbeiter/breitenstein/http://neurolog.uni-muenster.de/cms/front_content.php?idcat=34

Abstract

Similar to directional asymmetries in animals, language lateralization in humans follows a bimodal distribution. A majority of individuals are lateralized to the left and a minority of individuals are lateralized to the right side of the brain. However, a biological advantage for either lateralization is lacking. The scenario outlined by Vallortigara & Rogers (V&R) suggests that language lateralization in humans is not specific to language or human speciation but simply follows an evolutionarily conserved organizational principle of the brain.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

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