Handedness in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) is associated with asymmetries of the primary motor cortex but not with homologous language areas.
The neurobiology of hand preferences in nonhuman primates is poorly understood. In this study, the authors report the first evidence of an association between hand preference and precentral gyrus-morphology in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Hand preferences did not significantly correlate with other asymmetric brain regions associated with language functions in humans including the planum temporale and frontal operculum. The overall results suggest that homologous regions of the motor cortex control hand preferences in humans and apes and that these functions evolved independently of left-hemisphere specialization for language and speech.
Hopkins
William D
WD
Division of Psychobiology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. lrcbh@rmy.emory.edu
Cantalupo
Claudio
C
D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000502:physiology