title: A general theory concerning the prenatal origins of cerebral lateralization in humans.
abstract: The origins of cerebral lateralization in humans are traced to the asymmetric prenatal development of the ear and labyrinth. Aural lateralization is hypothesized to result from an asymmetry in craniofacial development, whereas vestibular dominance is traced to the position of the fetus during the final trimester. A right-ear sensitivity advantage may contribute to a left-hemispheric advantage in speech perception and language functions, whereas left-otolithic dominance may independently promote right-sided motoric dominance and a right-hemispheric superiority in most visuospatial functions. The emergence of handedness is linked to the assumption of an upright posture in the early hominids, whereas the failure to develop clear vestibular asymmetry may underlie the poor motoric lateralization found in several neurodevelopmental disorders.
authors.affiliation: Crew Technology Division, Armstrong Laboratory, Brooks Air Force Base, Texas.
authors.forename: F H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Previc
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral / Q000502:physiology*; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007746:Labor Presentation; D011247:Pregnancy; D013045:Species Specificity; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology