Onur Güntürkün

Sebastian Ocklenburg

The second edition of The Lateralized Brain provides for readers a volume detailing the functional and structural differences between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, highlighting how the widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques such as fMRI and DTI have completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated. In this new edition, all chapters have been updated with recent advances in the field, and a new chapter on hemispheric asymmetries in development and aging has been integrated. Also featured is a new, larger section on laterality in social behavior, alongside a comprehensive overview about key topics in laterality research, including its history, evolutionary perspectives, brain structure, and the role of the corpus callosum. Chapters cover functional hemispheric asymmetries in language processing, motor behavior, spatial attention, self- and face-perception, emotion processing, and social behavior. Additional topics include the ontogenesis of hemispheric asymmetries and their development over the life span, as well as sex differences and associations with clinical syndromes. This volume can be used by anyone working on hemispheric biology or in courses on hemispheric asymmetries. Provides a comprehensive overview about key topics in laterality research, including its history, evolutionary perspectives, the corpus callosum, and brain structure Includes references to key articles, books, protocols, and online resources for additional, detailed study Discusses classic studies that helped define the field of laterality research and presents introductory short stories (e.g. famous classic clinical cases in laterality research) as a starting point for each chapter Covers key concepts and methods in separate call-out boxes for quick overview Newly integrates a chapter on laterality in social behavior, as well as various smaller new sections covering recent advances in the field

The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries

The Lateralized Brain

Onur Gunturkun

Christian Beste

 Marco Hirnstein

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 and cognitive systems

The Lateralized Brain: The Neuroscience and Evolution of Hemispheric Asymmetries is an up-to-date teaching resource for neuroscience faculty members that teach courses concerning hemispheric asymmetries. The book provides students with all relevant information on the subject, while also giving aspiring researchers in the field an up-to-date overview of relevant, previous work. It is ideal for courses on hemispheric asymmetries, that is, the functional or structural differences between the left and the right hemispheres of the brain, and also highlights how the widespread use of modern neuroimaging techniques, such as fMRI and DTI has completely changed the way hemispheric asymmetries are currently investigated. Includes references to key articles, books, protocols and online resources for additional, detailed study Presents classic studies that helped define the field Covers key concepts and methods that are explained in separate call out boxes for quick overview Provides introductory short stories (e.g. classic clinical cases) as a starting point for each chapter

Sebastian Ocklenburg

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