title: [Phylogenetic aspects of laterality].
abstract: The human being is not only characterized by the ability of abstract thinking, upright walking and speaking, but also by a strong and differentiate functional asymmetry. The great majority are right-handers, showing a left-cerebrally dominance for language and praxis. It is very important to know the period when the human laterality of functions is evolved. Human beings of all races and cultures appear to have been predominantly right-handed since the earliest records were made. The time when right-handedness emerged in human evolution is a matter of some dispute. Because of poor record-keeping in prehistoric times, statements about the evolution of laterality in human beings must be based largely on speculation. The present review summarizes the prehistoric data concerning handedness and cerebral laterality. It is confirmed that laterality is not evolved in the last thousand years but it seems that lateralization of functions is the result of a protracted process elapsing perhaps several million years ago. Moreover this paper discusses the genesis and reasons of laterality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Universitätsklinikum Dresden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000885:Anthropology, Physical / Q000266:history; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny