Larval antlions with more pronounced behavioural asymmetry show enhanced cognitive skills.
Brain lateralization is hypothesized to improve the efficiency of information processing. Here, we found that some Myrmeleon bore antlion larvae showed individual asymmetry in righting from a supine to normal position over one side of their body, which can be considered a reflection of greater brain lateralization. We demonstrated that these behaviourally asymmetrical individuals showed improved learning abilities, providing novel evidence that brain lateralization leads to beneficial effects on cognitive functions.
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland krzysztof.miler@uj.edu.pl.
Krzysztof
0000-0001-7684-0629
K
Miler
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
Karolina
K
Kuszewska
Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland.
Michał
M
Woyciechowski
D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants; D001245:Association Learning / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D007313:Insecta / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva / Q000502:physiology; D009068:Movement; D011235:Predatory Behavior
Myrmeleon bore; antlion; behavioural asymmetry; brain lateralization; cognitive skills; righting behaviour