Long distance communication in the human brain: timing constraints for inter-hemispheric synchrony and the origin of brain lateralization.
Analysis of corpus callosum fiber composition reveals that inter-hemispheric transmission time may put constraints on the development of inter-hemispheric synchronic ensembles, especially in species with large brains like humans. In order to overcome this limitation, a subset of large-diameter callosal fibers are specialized for fast inter-hemispheric transmission, particularly in large-brained species. Nevertheless, the constraints on fast inter-hemispheric communication in large-brained species can somehow contribute to the development of ipsilateral, intrahemispheric networks, which might promote the development of brain lateralization.
Aboitiz
Francisco
F
Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Marcoleta No. 387, 2o Piso, P.O. Box 114-D, Santiago 1, Chile. faboitiz@puc.cl
López
Javier
J
Montiel
Juan
J
D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003337:Corpus Callosum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000502:physiology*