Cellular, morphometric, ontogenetic and connectional substrates of anatomical asymmetry

Semantic priming and neurobiology in schizophrenia: A theoretical review

In this theoretical review we bridge the cognitive and neurobiological sciences to shed light on the neurocognitive foundations of the semantic priming effect in schizophrenia. We review and theoretically evaluate the neurotransmitter systems (dopaminergic, GABAergic and glutamatergic) and neurobiological underpinnings of behavioural and electrophysiological (N400) semantic priming in the pathology, and the main hypotheses on their geneses: a disinhibition of the semantic spread of activation, a disorganised semantic storage or noisy lexical-semantic associations, a psychomotor artefact, an artefact of relatedness proportions, or an inability to mobilise contextual information. We further assess the literature on the endophenotype of Formal Thought Disorder from multiple standpoints, ranging from neurophysiology to cognition: considerations are weaved on neuronal (PV basket cell, SST, VIP) and receptor deficits (DRD1, NMDA), neurotransmitter imbalances (dopamine), cortical and dopaminergic lateralisation, inter alia. In conclusion, we put forth novel postulates on the underlying causes of controlled hypopriming, automatic hyperpriming, N400 reversals (larger amplitudes for close associations), indirect versus direct hyperpriming, and the endophenotype of lexical-semantic disturbances in schizophrenia.

Bilingualism Influences Structural Indices of Interhemispheric Organization

Bilingualism represents an interesting model of possible experience-dependent alterations in brain structure. The current study examines whether interhemispheric adaptations in brain structure are associated with bilingualism. Corpus callosum volume and cortical thickness asymmetry across 13 regions of interest (selected to include critical language and bilingual cognitive control areas) were measured in a sample of Spanish-English bilinguals and age- and gender-matched monolingual individuals (N = 39 per group). Cortical thickness asymmetry of the anterior cingulate region differed across groups, with thicker right than left cortex for bilinguals and the reverse for monolinguals. In addition, two adjacent regions of the corpus callosum (mid-anterior and central) had greater volume in bilinguals. The findings suggest that structural indices of interhemispheric organization in a critical cognitive control region are sensitive to variations in language experience.

Cerebral laterality for language is related to adult salivary testosterone levels but not digit ratio (2D:4D) in men: A functional transcranial Doppler ultrasound study

The adequacy of three competing theories of hormonal effects on cerebral laterality are compared using functional transcranial Doppler sonography (fTCD). Thirty-three adult males participated in the study (21 left-handers). Cerebral lateralization was measured by fTCD using an extensively validated word generation task. Adult salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations were measured by luminescence immunoassay and prenatal T exposure was indirectly estimated by the somatic marker of 2nd to 4th digit length ratio (2D:4D). A significant quadratic relationship between degree of cerebral laterality for language and adult T concentrations was observed, with enhanced T levels for strong left hemisphere dominance and strong right hemisphere dominance. No systematic effects on laterality were found for cortisol or 2D:4D. Findings suggest that higher levels of T are associated with a relatively attenuated degree of interhemispheric sharing of linguistic information, providing support for the callosal and the sexual differentiation hypotheses rather than the Geschwind, Behan and Galaburda (GBG) hypothesis.

Recommended Methods for Brain Processing and Quantitative Analysis in Rodent Developmental Neurotoxicity Studies

Neuropathology methods in rodent developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies have evolved with experience and changing regulatory guidance. This article emphasizes principles and methods to promote more standardized DNT neuropathology evaluation, particularly procurement of highly homologous brain sections and collection of the most reproducible morphometric measurements. To minimize bias, brains from all animals at all dose levels should be processed from brain weighing through paraffin embedding at one time using a counterbalanced design. Morphometric measurements should be anchored by distinct neuroanatomic landmarks that can be identified reliably on the faced block or in unstained sections and which address the region-specific circuitry of the measured area. Common test article-related qualitative changes in the developing brain include abnormal cell numbers (yielding altered regional size), displaced cells (ectopia and heterotopia), and/or aberrant differentiation (indicated by defective myelination or synaptogenesis), but rarely glial or inflammatory reactions. Inclusion of digital images in the DNT pathology raw data provides confidence that the quantitative analysis was done on anatomically matched (i.e., highly homologous) sections. Interpreting DNT neuropathology data and their presumptive correlation with neurobehavioral data requires an integrative weight-of-evidence approach including consideration of maternal toxicity, body weight, brain weight, and the pattern of findings across brain regions, doses, sexes, and ages.

Caudate asymmetry: a neurobiological marker of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure in young adults

This study identified structural changes in the caudate nucleus in offspring of mothers who drank moderate levels of alcohol during pregnancy. In addition, the effect of duration of alcohol use during pregnancy was assessed. Young adults were recruited from the Maternal Health Practices and Child Development Project. Three groups were evaluated: prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) during all three trimesters (3T), PAE during the first trimester only (1T), and controls with no PAE (0T). Magnetic resonance images were processed using the automated labeling pathway technique. Volume was measured as the number (gray+white) and relative percentage (caudate count/whole brain count x 100) of voxels. Asymmetry was calculated by subtracting the caudate volume on the left from the right and dividing by the total (L-R/L+R). Data analyses controlled for gender, handedness, and prenatal tobacco and marijuana exposures. There were no significant differences between the groups for whole brain, left, or right volumes. There was a dose-response effect across the three exposure groups both in terms of magnitude and direction of asymmetry. In the 3T group, the left caudate was larger relative to the right caudate compared to the 0T group. The average magnitude of caudate asymmetry for the 1T group was intermediate between the 0T and 3T groups. Subtle anatomical changes in the caudate are detected at the moderate end of the spectrum of prenatal alcohol exposure.

The habenular nuclei: a conserved asymmetric relay station in the vertebrate brain

The dorsal diencephalon, or epithalamus, contains the bilaterally paired habenular nuclei and the pineal complex. The habenulae form part of the dorsal diencephalic conduction (DDC) system, a highly conserved pathway found in all vertebrates. In this review, we shall describe the neuroanatomy of the DDC, consider its physiology and behavioural involvement, and discuss examples of neural asymmetries within both habenular circuitry and the pineal complex. We will discuss studies in zebrafish, which have examined the organization and development of this circuit, uncovered how asymmetry is represented at the level of individual neurons and determined how such left–right differences arise during development.

Does testosterone affect lateralization of brain and behaviour? A meta-analysis in humans and other animal species

Lateralization of brain and behaviour has been the topic of research for many years in neuropsychology, but the factors guiding its development remain elusive. Based on sex differences in human lateralization, four hypotheses have been postulated that suggest a role for androgens, specifically testosterone. With the discovery that lateralization is a fundamental principle in the organization of brain and behaviour among vertebrates, it has now become possible to experimentally test such hypotheses in animal models. The use of different taxa, humans, other mammalian species and birds (with oestradiol and not testosterone involved in sexual differentiation in birds) facilitates to differentiate between the hypotheses. We used meta-analyses for analysing papers that provided sufficient information, and a semi-quantitative approach based on all relevant studies that we extracted from the literature. We tested the predictions of these hypotheses regarding strength and direction of lateralization for motor output, language and visuospatial cognition in these three taxa. We tested for sex differences and early organizational effects of testosterone (both correlative and experimental studies). We found sex differences in the direction of lateralization for non-human mammals (motor biases similar to humans) and in direction and strength in birds (visual cognitive tasks). However, the prediction that prenatal testosterone exposure affects the direction of lateralization was not supported for humans. In birds and non-human mammals, opposite trends were found, with the effect in non-human mammals being opposite to the expectation based on sex differences. None of the four hypotheses was sufficiently supported and more studies, testing a wider array of functions in different taxa while reporting the data more completely are needed.

Comparative analysis of anxiety-like behaviors and sensorimotor functions in two rat mutants, ci2 and ci3, with lateralized rotational behavior

There is increasing evidence that developmental anomalies of cerebral asymmetry are involved in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, depression and anxiety. Thus, rodents with abnormal cerebral lateralization are interesting tools to study the association between such anomalies and behavioral dysfunction. The most studied indicator of cerebral asymmetry in the rat is that of circling or rotational behavior. We have recently described two rat mutants, ci2 and ci3, in which lateralized rotational behavior occurs either spontaneously or in response to external stimuli, such as new environment or handling. While cochlear and vestibular defects are found in ci2 rats, ci3 rats do not exhibit any inner ear abnormalities. The abnormal motor response to external stimuli raised the possibility that the circling rat mutants may be more likely to express anxiety-related behavior in tests of emotionality. In the present study, we characterized anxiety-related behaviors of ci2 and ci3 rats in the open field, elevated plus-maze and light/dark exploration test. Furthermore, sensorimotor functions of these rats were evaluated by the rotarod, accelerod and wire hang tests. Heterozygous (ci2/+) littermates or rats of the respective background strains (LEW, BH.7A) were used as controls. In contrast to our expectation, both mutants demonstrated less anxiety-related behavior than controls in tests of emotionality. Ci3 rats exhibited normal sensorimotor functions, whereas marked impairment was observed in ci2 rats, which is most likely a consequence of the vestibular dysfunction in these animals. The acoustic startle response (ASR) and prepulse inhibition of ASR did not differ between ci3 rats and controls. The reduced emotionality of the mutant rats indicated by the present experiments may not be specifically linked to anxiety per se, but is maybe more reflective of impulsivity or the inability to normally perceive or process potentially threatening situations. Based on previous findings of dysfunctions of the central dopamine system in ci2 and ci3 mutant rats, we assume that alterations in dopaminergic activity are involved in the maladaptive behavior observed in the present study.

Temporally regulated asymmetric neurogenesis causes left-right difference in the zebrafish habenular structures

The habenular neurons on both sides of the zebrafish diencephalon show an asymmetric (laterotopic) axonal projection pattern into the interpeduncular nucleus. We previously revealed that the habenula could be subdivided into medial and lateral subnuclei, and a prominent left-right difference in the size ratio of these subnuclei accounts for the asymmetry in its neural connectivity. In the present study, birth date analysis showed that neural precursors for the lateral subnuclei were born at earlier stages than those for the medial subnuclei. More neurons for the early-born lateral subnuclei were generated on the left side, while more neurons for the late-born medial subnuclei were generated on the right side. Genetic hyperactivation and repression of Notch signaling revealed that differential timing determines both specificity and asymmetry in the neurogenesis of neural precursors for the habenular subnuclei.

Alterations in dopamine D3 receptors in the circling (ci3) rat mutant

We have previously described a black-hooded mutant rat (BH.7A/Ztm-ci3/ci3) that displays abnormal lateralized circling behavior, but normal auditory and vestibular functions. Neurochemical determination of dopamine and dopamine metabolite levels in striatum, nucleus accumbens and substantia nigra showed that ci3 rats have a significant asymmetry in striatal dopamine in that dopamine levels were significantly lower in the hemisphere contralateral to the preferred direction of turning. Consistent with this finding, immunohistological examination of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area yielded a significant laterality in the medial part of substantia nigra pars compacta with a lower density of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive neurons in the contralateral hemisphere of mutant circling rats, while no laterality was seen in unaffected rats of the background strain. In the present study, quantitative autoradiography was used to examine the binding of [(3)H]SCH 23390, [(3)H]raclopride and [(3)H]7-OH-DPAT (7-hydroxy-N,N-di-n-propyl-2-aminotetralin) to dopamine D1, D2, and D3 receptors, respectively, in various brain regions of ci3 rats and unaffected rats of the background strain (BH.7A(LEW)/Won). No significant differences between circling rats and controls were obtained for D1 and D2 receptor binding in any region, but mutant rats differed from controls in dopamine D3 binding in several regions. A significant decrease in D3 binding was seen in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, the islands of Calleja, and the subependymal zone of ci3 mutant rats. Furthermore, a significant laterality in D3 binding was determined in ci3 rats in that binding was lower in the contralateral hemisphere in the shell of the nucleus accumbens and the islands of Calleja. Our data indicate that alterations of dopamine D3 receptors may be involved in the behavioral phenotype of the ci3 rat, thus substantiating the findings from a recent genetic linkage analysis that indicated the D3 receptor gene as a candidate gene in this rat mutant.

Neonatal transection of the corpus callosum affects rotational side preference in adult Swiss mice

In order to test the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum (CC) contributes to the establishment of behavioral lateralization, the rotatory behavior in the free-swimming test was studied in male Swiss mice that were subjected to mid-sagittal transection of the CC during the first postnatal day. At adulthood, 16 Acallosal and 30 Sham-operated mice were submitted to 3 sessions of the free-swimming rotatory test (diameter of the recipient=21 cm; session duration=5 min; inter-test interval=48 h). The number and direction of 30 degrees turns were recorded. Our results indicate that transected animals became progressively more lateralized than Sham ones from the first to the third session. This difference between groups was explained mainly by the more pronounced reduction in turning activity to the non-preferred side along the sessions that was observed in Acallosal mice. Our results give further support to the hypothesis that the normal development of the CC is related to the establishment of brain asymmetries in general and behavioral lateralization in particular.

Sex and handedness effects on corpus callosum morphology in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Findings suggest that in humans, sex and hand preference may be associated with the size of the corpus callosum (CC). The authors measured CC morphology from MRIs in 67 chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) to see whether similar effects were present in this species. Hand preference was assessed by performance on 4 tasks, and chimpanzees were classified as left-handed, right-handed, or ambidextrous. In a subsequent analysis, the chimpanzees were reclassified into 2 groups: right-handed and left-handed. The results revealed no sex difference in CC area, but significant effects of hand preference were found for several CC regions (rostrum body, anterior midbody, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium) and for overall CC size, with left-handed chimpanzees exhibiting significantly smaller CC measurements than right-handed chimpanzees. The results indicate that lateralized hand use in chimpanzees, as in humans, is associated with variation in CC size.

Lobar asymmetries in subtypes of dyslexic and control subjects

Reading involves phonologic decoding, in which readers "sound out" a word; orthographic decoding, in which readers recognize a word visually, as in "sight reading"; and comprehension. Because reading can involve multiple processes, dyslexia might be a heterogeneous disorder. This study investigated behavior and gross lobar anatomy in subtypes of dyslexic and control subjects. Subjects aged 18 to 25 years with identified reading problems and a group of healthy controls were given cognitive and behavioral tests and volumetric brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Because atypical cerebral laterality has been proposed as a potential neural risk for dyslexia, dyslexic and control subjects were compared on anatomy of gross lobar regions. On asymmetry quotients, no significant differences were found between groups. Examination of the percentage of total brain volume of each structure revealed that control and dyslexic subjects were significantly different (P = .018). Dyslexic subjects had a larger percentage of brain volume than did the controls in the areas of total prefrontal (P = .003; 9.30% larger) and superior prefrontal (P = .004; 11.48% larger region). A Pearson correlation was performed to investigate whether a relationship existed between behavioral measures and either volumes of total prefrontal and total occipital regions or asymmetry quotients. A significant positive relationship between the left total occipital and word identification performance existed (R = .452, P = .045). Because it is believed by some that dyslexia occurs in varying degrees of severity, and because one of the research questions in this study is whether anatomy relates to severity or to distinct biologic groups, subjects were grouped according to both the nature and distinct pattern of reading or language performance and the degree of deficit. A battery of reading tests revealed five clinical subgroups of control (two) and dyslexic (three) subjects. These subgroups were statistically different on all cognitive and behavioral measures. When asymmetry was investigated across subgroups, significant differences between subgroups were found at the multivariate level (P = .043). Only the phonologic deficit groups (weak phonologic controls, phonologic deficit dyslexic subjects) had atypical asymmetry patterns. This finding suggests that lack of subtyping could have confounded earlier studies and that anomalous asymmetry might be related to phonologic dyslexia, whereas other subtypes might be reflective of environmental factors. Examination of volume at the subgroup level also showed differences between subgroups that might have implications for the nature of compensation. This study supports the concept that anomalous anatomy might reflect anomalous functional cerebral laterality, which could be a risk factor for developmental dyslexia, varying according to the nature of the deficit.

The Association between handedness, brain asymmetries, and corpus callosum size in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

It has been suggested from studies in human subjects that sex, handedness, and brain asymmetries influence variation in corpus callosum (CC) size and these differences reflect the degree of connectivity between homotopic regions of the left and right cerebral hemispheres. Here we report that handedness is associated with variation in the size of the CC in chimpanzees. We further report that variation in brain asymmetries in a cortical region homologous to Broca's area is associated with the size of the CC but differs for right- and left-handed individuals. Collectively, the results suggest that individual differences in functional and neuroanatomical asymmetries are associated with CC variation not just in humans but also in chimpanzees and therefore may reflect a common neural basis for laterality in these 2 species.

Molecular approaches to brain asymmetry and handedness

In the human brain, distinct functions tend to be localized in the left or right hemispheres, with language ability usually localized predominantly in the left and spatial recognition in the right. Furthermore, humans are perhaps the only mammals who have preferential handedness, with more than 90% of the population more skillful at using the right hand, which is controlled by the left hemisphere. How is a distinct function consistently localized in one side of the human brain? Because of the convergence of molecular and neurological analysis, we are beginning to consider the puzzle of brain asymmetry and handedness at a molecular level.

Correlated activity of sensorimotor cortex neurons in the left and right hemispheres of the rabbit brain in immobilization catatonia

Spike sequences extracted from multineuron activity from neurons in the sensorimotor cortex, and recorded simultaneously in the left and right hemispheres of the brains of rabbits in the state of immobilization catatonia ("animal hypnosis") and on recovery of animals from this state were analyzed. Cross-correlation analysis of spike flows revealed a temporal relationship between the appearance of neuron spikes in the left and right hemispheres; these were regarded as the mutual influences of these neurons on each other. The intensity of the influences of left hemisphere neurons on cells in the right brain was shown to change significantly in relation to baseline measures at all stages of the experiment and at all of the time points studied. The intensity of the influences of neurons in the right hemisphere on cells in the left hemisphere changed significantly only after animals recovered from the state of immobilization and over much more restricted time periods.

Hemispheric asymmetry of sulcus-function correspondence: quantization and developmental implications

Spatial covariances between the geometric centers of human occipital sulci and visual functional areas were calculated to reduce the spatial variance of functional-area locations between subjects. Seven visual areas in each occipital hemisphere were retinotopically mapped, using horizontal- and vertical-meridian stimuli and (15)O PET in 11 subjects. Sulcal locations were determined using anatomic brain models derived from high-resolution MRI images. Location variability for sulci and functional areas was similar in magnitude, with average standard deviations of (2.7x, 5.3y, 5.7z) mm and (4.3x, 5.4y, 5.3z) mm, respectively. Sulcal locations were predictive of functional-area locations (i.e., significant spatial covariance) in the minority of structure-function pairings tested (25 of 168). Location variability was reduced by an average of 27% for functional areas showing significant covariation with sulcal features. Early-developing sulci were stronger predictors of functional-area location than late-developing sulci. Sulcus-function covariance was stronger in the left occipital lobe than in the right occipital lobe. Notably, the left calcarine fissure demonstrated powerful covariances with functional areas in both hemispheres, suggesting that it serves as a developmental "anchor" for functional areas in the occipital cortex. These findings support the hypothesis that hemispheric lateralization of function is reflected in the strength of correspondence between cortical surface anatomy and function.

Increased lateralization in rotational side preference in male mice rendered acallosal by prenatal gamma irradiation

In order to test the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of behavioral laterality, the rotatory behavior in the free-swimming test was studied in male Swiss mice with callosal defects induced by exposure to gamma irradiations at the 16th embryonic day (total dose of 3 Gy). At adulthood, 43 irradiated and 56 non-irradiated mice were submitted to 3 sessions of the free-swimming rotatory test (diameter of the recipient=21 cm; session duration=5 min; inter-test interval=48 h). The number and direction of 30 degrees and 360 degrees turns were recorded. Animals were classified as side-consistent turners (to the right or to the left) when they did not change their preferred side of rotation in all three sessions and in both turning units. In general our results suggested that irradiated animals present more pronounced laterality than non-irradiated ones. In the irradiated group, the percentage of consistent turners was significantly higher than that of non-consistent turners. In the first session, the percentage of animals that presented strong turning preferences in the acallosal group was higher than in the normal group. In first session, the acallosal group presented a higher average number of turns to preferred side than the normal group. Taken together, our results constitute an endorsement to the hypothesis that the normal development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of cerebral laterality.

Callosal agenesis affects consistency of laterality in a paw preference task in BALB/cCF mice

We tested the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum (CC) affects the consistency of laterality in a paw preference task. Adult male mice (55 normal and 29 acallosal) of the BALB/cCF strain were initially tested (twice; inter-test interval: 72 h) in an unbiased setup in which both forepaws could easily perform a reaching movement. In a subsequent test, animals were placed in a biased setup that favored the use of the non-preferred paw. Acallosal and normal mice were strongly lateralized in the unbiased setup. Additionally, while normal mice did not present a populational bias favoring one of the paws, acallosal mice presented a significant bias favoring the left paw. In the biased setup, left- and right-pawed normal mice were equally consistent (approximately 65% of the animals, in both groups, used the preferred paw of the initial two tests, in spite of the bias). Conversely, while left-pawed acallosal mice were as consistent (65%) as normal mice, only 20% of right-pawed mice were consistent. These results suggest that the development of the CC affects consistency of laterality in a side-dependent manner. These results are discussed considering the role of the CC in the establishment of behavioral lateralization.

Automatic analysis of cerebral asymmetry: an exploratory study of the relationship between brain torque and planum temporale asymmetry

Leftward occipital and rightward frontal lobe asymmetry (brain torque) and leftward planum temporale asymmetry have been consistently reported in postmortem and in vivo neuroimaging studies of the human brain. Here automatic image analysis techniques are applied to quantify global and local asymmetries, and investigate the relationship between brain torque and planum temporale asymmetries on T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images of 30 right-handed young healthy subjects (15 male, 15 female). Previously described automatic cerebral hemisphere extraction and 3D interhemispheric reflection-based methods for studying brain asymmetry are applied with a new technique, LowD (Low Dimension), which enables automatic quantification of brain torque. LowD integrates extracted left and right cerebral hemispheres in columns orthogonal to the midsagittal plane (2D column maps), and subsequently integrates slices along the brain's anterior-posterior axis (1D slice profiles). A torque index defined as the magnitude of occipital and frontal lobe asymmetry is computed allowing exploratory investigation of relationships between this global asymmetry and local asymmetries found in the planum temporale. LowD detected significant torque in the 30 subjects with occipital and frontal components found to be highly correlated (P<0.02). Significant leftward planum temporale asymmetry was detected (P<0.05), and the torque index correlated with planum temporale asymmetry (P<0.001). However, torque and total brain volume were not correlated. Therefore, although components of cerebral asymmetry may be related, their magnitude is not influenced by total hemisphere volume. LowD provides increased sensitivity for detection and quantification of brain torque on an individual subject basis, and future studies will apply these techniques to investigate the relationship between cerebral asymmetry and functional laterality.

Exposure of Postnatal Rats to a Static Magnetic Field of 0.14 T Influences Functional Laterality of the Hippocampal High-Affinity Choline Uptake System in Adulthood; In vitro Test with Magnetic Nanoparticles

Our previous experiments indicated an age- and sex-dependent functional lateralization of a high-affinity choline uptake system in hippocampi of Wistar rats. The system is connected with acetylcholine synthesis and also plays a role in spatial navigation. The current study demonstrates that a single in vivo exposure of 7- or 14-day-old males to a static magnetic field of 0.14 T for 60-120 min evokes asymmetric alterations in the activity of carriers in adulthood. Namely, the negative field (antiparallel orientation with a vertical component of the geomagnetic field) mediated a more marked decrease in the right hippocampus. The positive field (parallel orientation) was ineffective. Moreover, differences between the carriers from the right and the left hippocampi were observed on synaptosomes pretreated with superparamagnetic nanoparticles and exposed for 30 min in vitro. The positive field enhanced more markedly the activity of carriers from the right hippocampus, the negative that from the left hippocampus, on the contrary. Our results demonstrate functionally teratogenic risks of the alterations in the orientation of the strong static magnetic field for postnatal brain development and suggest functional specialization of both hippocampi in rats. Choline carriers could be involved as secondary receptors in magnetoreception through direct effects of geomagnetic field on intracellular magnetite crystals and nanoparticles applied in vivo should be a useful tool to evaluate magnetoreception in future research.

Postnatal maturation of cortical serotonin lateral asymmetry in gerbils is vulnerable to both environmental and pharmacological epigenetic challenges

Long-term effects of postnatal differential rearing conditions and/or early methamphetamine (MA) application on serotonin (5-HT) fibre density were investigated in several cortical areas of both hemispheres of gerbils. The aim of this study was twofold: (1) Is the 5-HT fibre innervation of the cerebral cortex lateralised, and (2) if so, do postnatal environmental conditions and/or an early drug challenge interfere with development of 5-HT cerebral asymmetries? For that purpose, male gerbils were reared either under semi-natural or restricted environmental and social conditions, under both conditions once (on postnatal day 14) being treated with either a single dose of MA (50 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline. On postnatal day 110, 5-HT fibres were immunohistochemically stained and innervation densities quantified in prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, and entorhinal cortex. It was found that (1) 5-HT innervation in the cerebral cortex was clearly lateralised; (2) direction and extent of this asymmetry were not uniformly distributed over the different areas investigated; (3) both early methamphetamine challenge and rearing condition differentially interfered with adult 5-HT cerebral asymmetry; (4) combining MA challenge with subsequent restricted rearing tended to reverse the effects of MA on 5-HT cerebral asymmetry in some of the cortical areas investigated; and (5) significant responses in 5-HT cerebral asymmetry only occurred in prefrontal and entorhinal association cortices. The present findings suggest that the ontogenesis of cortical laterality is influenced by epigenetic factors and that disturbances of the postnatal maturation of lateralised functions may be associated with certain psychopathological behaviours.

Structure of dependent relationships between neurons in the sensorimotor cortex of the left and right hemispheres in rabbits in immobilization catatonia

Dependence in the activity of sensorimotor cortex neurons recorded simultaneously in the left and right hemispheres was detected in rabbits in baseline conditions, during the state of immobilization ("animal hypnosis"), and recovery of animals from this state. In baseline conditions, the total percentage of dependent relationships between close-lying (within 50 microm) neurons in the left hemisphere was significantly smaller than in the right hemisphere and did not change either in the state of immobilization or on recovery from it. The total percentage of dependent relationships between close-lying neurons in the right hemisphere decreased significantly during immobilization and returned to baseline levels on recovery from this state. The percentage of dependent relationships between distant (500 microm) neurons in immobilization, conversely, showed no change in the cortex of the right hemisphere, though it changed significantly in the cortex of the left hemisphere, returning to baseline values when the rabbits recovered from this state. Further analysis showed that this cortical interhemisphere asymmetry was based on the asymmetrical activity of individual neurons and small neuronal populations. Thus, changes in the structure of dependent relationships between neurons in microareas of the cortex of the left and macroareas of the cortex of the right hemisphere could be in different directions, while changes in microareas of the right hemisphere and macroareas of the left hemisphere were synergistic. Thus, asymmetry was detected at different levels of neuronal combinations (neuron pairs, micro- and macrogroups of neurons), which suggests mosaicism in neuron structure, which ultimately leads to overall functional asymmetry in "animal hypnosis." Some changes in the structure of dependent relationships between sensorimotor cortex neurons arising in "animal hypnosis" persisted or even became more marked after recovery of animals from this state.

Effects of callosal agenesis on rotational side preference of BALB/cCF mice in the free swimming test

In order to test the hypothesis that the ontogenetic development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of behavioral laterality, the rotatory behavior in the free swimming test was studied in male mice of the BALB/cCF strain, in which approximately 20% of the animals present total or partial callosal agenesis. All animals were submitted to three sessions of the free-swimming rotatory test in three different sessions (diameter of the recipient = 21 cm; session duration = 5 min; inter-test interval = 48 h). The number and direction of the 30 and 360 degrees turns were recorded. Animals were classified as side-consistent turners (to the right or to the left) when they did not change their preferred side of rotation in all three sessions and in both turning units. In general our results suggested that acallosal animals present more pronounced laterality than normal ones. In the acallosal group, the percentage of consistent turners was significantly higher than that of non-consistent turners. The percentage of animals that presented strong turning preferences in the acallosal group was higher than in the normal group. In first session, the acallosal group presented a higher average number of turns to preferred side than the normal group. Taken together, our results constitute an endorsement to the hypothesis that the normal development of the corpus callosum is related to the establishment of cerebral laterality.

Cerebral Asymmetries for Language: Evidence for Structural-Behavioral Correlations

The current investigation tested 20 male right-handers in 5 divided visual field lexical tasks. Asymmetries in Heschl's gyrus, planum temporale, and planum parietale were measured using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Composite task asymmetries were positively correlated with asymmetry of the planum temporale only. There was also an association between the consistency of anatomical and behavioral asymmetries: Individuals who departed the most from the modal pattern of cortical asymmetry across regions also tended to show the greatest variability in asymmetry across tasks. Hence, individual differences in language laterality tasks may be affected by variation in asymmetry of posterior language structures. Additionally, when typical anatomical asymmetries fail to co-occur, there may be a less strictly regulated distribution of function across hemispheres.

Abnormal asymmetry in language association cortex in autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting cognitive, language, and social functioning. Although language and social communication abnormalities are characteristic, prior structural imaging studies have not examined language-related cortex in autistic and control subjects. Subjects included 16 boys with autism (aged 7-11 years), with nonverbal IQ greater than 80, and 15 age- and handedness-matched controls. Magnetic resonance brain images were segmented into gray and white matter; cerebral cortex was parcellated into 48 gyral-based divisions per hemisphere. Asymmetry was assessed a priori in language-related inferior lateral frontal and posterior superior temporal regions and assessed post hoc in all regions to determine specificity of asymmetry abnormalities. Boys with autism had significant asymmetry reversal in frontal language-related cortex: 27% larger on the right in autism and 17% larger on the left in controls. Only one additional region had significant asymmetry differences on post hoc analysis: posterior temporal fusiform gyrus (more left-sided in autism), whereas adjacent fusiform gyrus and temporooccipital inferior temporal gyrus both approached significance (more right-sided in autism). These inferior temporal regions are involved in visual face processing. In boys with autism, language and social/face processing-related regions displayed abnormal asymmetry. These structural abnormalities may relate to language and social disturbances observed in autism.

Neuronal cell death during sexual differentiation and lateralisation of vocal communication

A rodent analogy has been established to investigate the neural mechanisms occurring during sexual differentiation and lateralization. A sexually dimorphic hypothalamic nucleus (SDApc) is closely associated with a stereotyped, courtship vocalisation in male gerbils. Stereological analysis of SDApc cytoarchitecture reveals that neuron number and nuclear volume are asymmetric in male adults. Strikingly, neuron number on the left side of the SDApc correlates significantly with the rate of the courtship call in males. Exogenous testosterone treatment in female neonates masculinises and lateralises SDApc structure and function. Neuronal programmed cell death (apoptosis), manifested in SDApcs of neonates, is more frequent in females. Significantly, apoptosis in males is lateralised, as revealed by lateral asymmetry of neuron number at postnatal day 16. It is concluded that neuroendocrine-dependent, sexual differentiation and lateralization are concurrent and influenced by apoptotic mechanisms. It is suggested that apoptosis is the result of a genetically-driven device, inherent in postmitotic, undifferentiated cells which may have recently migrated into the SDApc. The genomic mechanism inducing lateralised apoptosis is apparently activated only neonatally in males.

Diencephalic asymmetries

Structural asymmetry in diencephalic regions has been reported in a number of studies since the pioneering observations by Kemali and Braitenberg, Atlas of the frog's brain. Springer Verlag: 1969. Anatomical differences between the left and right habenulae have been identified in many lower vertebrate species. While there are few reports of structural asymmetry in the dorsal thalamus, there is evidence that asymmetrical thalamofugal projections can be induced in the visual system of chicks by lateralized sensory stimulation prior to hatching. Finally, there have been consistent reports of differences between and right sides of the hypothalamus in their sensitivity to the effects of circulating gonadal hormones in rats. In most cases, these asymmetries are sex-linked and correspond to a lateralization of function. Although the significance of these diencephalic asymmetries is still enigmatic, their existence indicates that asymmetry is not a phylogenetically recent feature of the brain, and the left-right differences in the brain may be mediated by a common ontogenetic mechanism and may underlie the development of highly specialized functions.