scholarly journals Development of lateralization of the magnetic compass in a migratory bird

2012 ◽  
Vol 279 (1745) ◽  
pp. 4230-4235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis Gehring ◽  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Onur Güntürkün ◽  
Susanne Denzau ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko

The magnetic compass of a migratory bird, the European robin ( Erithacus rubecula ), was shown to be lateralized in favour of the right eye/left brain hemisphere. However, this seems to be a property of the avian magnetic compass that is not present from the beginning, but develops only as the birds grow older. During first migration in autumn, juvenile robins can orient by their magnetic compass with their right as well as with their left eye. In the following spring, however, the magnetic compass is already lateralized, but this lateralization is still flexible: it could be removed by covering the right eye for 6 h. During the following autumn migration, the lateralization becomes more strongly fixed, with a 6 h occlusion of the right eye no longer having an effect. This change from a bilateral to a lateralized magnetic compass appears to be a maturation process, the first such case known so far in birds. Because both eyes mediate identical information about the geomagnetic field, brain asymmetry for the magnetic compass could increase efficiency by setting the other hemisphere free for other processes.

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Wilzeck ◽  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Onur Güntürkün ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko ◽  
Helmut Prior

The aim of our study was to test for lateralization of magnetic compass orientation in pigeons. Having shown that pigeons are capable of learning magnetic compass directions in an operant task, we wanted to know whether the brain hemispheres contribute differently and how the lateralization pattern relates to findings in other avian species. Birds that had learnt to locate food in an operant chamber by means of magnetic directions were tested for lateralization of magnetic compass orientation by temporarily covering one eye. Successful orientation occurred under all conditions of viewing. Thus, pigeons can perceive and process magnetic compass directions with the right eye and left brain hemisphere as well as the left eye and right brain hemisphere. However, while the right brain hemisphere tended to confuse the learned direction with its opposite (axial response), the left brain hemisphere specifically preferred the correct direction. Our findings demonstrate bilateral processing of magnetic information, but also suggest qualitative differences in how the left and the right brain deal with magnetic cues.


2002 ◽  
Vol 205 (12) ◽  
pp. 1795-1805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helmut Prior ◽  
Frank Lingenauber ◽  
Jörg Nitschke ◽  
Onur Güntürkün

SUMMARY The pigeon's use of different visuo-spatial cues was studied under controlled laboratory conditions that simulated analogous aspects of a homing situation. The birds first learned the route to a goal that was not visible from the starting location, but became visible as it was approached. Birds could orientate within a mainly geometric global reference frame, using prominent landmarks within their range, or by `piloting' along local cues. After learning the route, the birds were tested from familiar and unfamiliar release points, and several aspects of the available cues were varied systematically. The study explored the contribution of the left and right brain hemispheres by performing tests with the right or left eye occluded. The results show that pigeons can establish accurate bearings towards a non-visible goal by using a global reference frame only. Furthermore, there was a peak of searching activity at the location predicted by the global reference frame. Search at this location and directedness of the bearings were equally high with both right and left eye, suggesting that both brain hemispheres have the same competence level for these components of the task. A lateralization effect occurred when prominent landmarks were removed or translated. While the right brain hemisphere completely ignored such changes,the left brain hemisphere was distracted by removal of landmarks. After translation of landmarks, the left but not the right brain hemisphere allocated part of the searching activity to the site predicted by the new landmark position. The results show that a mainly geometric global visual reference frame is sufficient to determine exact bearings from familiar and unfamiliar release points. Overall, the results suggest a model of brain lateralization with a well-developed global spatial reference system in either hemisphere and an extra capacity for the processing of object features in the left brain.


2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Ursula Munro ◽  
Hugh Ford ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko

The ability of migratory silvereyes to orient was tested in the geomagnetic field with one eye covered. Silvereyes using only their right eye were able to orient in migratory direction just as well as birds using both eyes. Using only their left eye, however, the birds did not show a significant directional preference. These data indicate that directional information from the magnetic field is mediated almost exclusively by the right eye and processed by the left hemisphere of the brain. Together with corresponding findings from European robins and indications for a similar phenomenon in homing pigeons, they suggest that a strong lateralisation of the magnetic compass is widespread among birds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 20200296
Author(s):  
Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato ◽  
Giulia Montalbano ◽  
Marco Dadda ◽  
Cristiano Bertolucci

Individual fitness often depends on the ability to inhibit behaviours not adapted to a given situation. However, inhibitory control can vary greatly between individuals of the same species. We investigated a mechanism that might maintain this variability in zebrafish ( Danio rerio ). We demonstrate that inhibitory control correlates with cerebral lateralization, the tendency to process information with one brain hemisphere or the other. Individuals that preferentially observed a social stimulus with the right eye and thus processed social information with the left brain hemisphere, inhibited foraging behaviour more efficiently. Therefore, selective pressures that maintain lateralization variability in populations might provide indirect selection for variability in inhibitory control. Our study suggests that individual cognitive differences may result from complex multi-trait selection mechanisms.


1999 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvatore Aglioti ◽  
Nicola Smania ◽  
Andrea Peru

Twelve normal controls, twelve left-brain-damaged patients, and thirty-six right-brain-damaged patients with or without tactile extinction or tactile neglect were asked to report light touches delivered to the left or the right hand or simultaneously to both hands. The hands could be in anatomic position or one hand could cross over the other. Moreover, the two hands could be in the left or the right hemispace or across the corporeal midline. Controls and nontactile-extinction groups performed better when the hands were in anatomical than in crossed position. By contrast, patients with tactile extinction detected contralesional stimuli with higher accuracy in crossed than in anatomical position. This result suggests that, in these patients, impairments in detecting contralesional stimuli can be due not only to sensory but also to spatial factors contingent upon the position of the hands. There was no interaction between the effect of crossing the hands and the hemispace where the crossing took place. This suggests that coding the position of a hand as left or right does not necessarily occur in relation to the bodily midline, but it may arise from the computation of the position of the other hand.


2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Emily Corbin ◽  
Aaron M. Norton

This article proposes a comprehensive counseling approach by integrating techniques from solution-focused brief therapy and interpersonal neurobiology. This approach allows counselors to intentionally utilize both hemispheres of the brain during the therapeutic process—anchoring the techniques of solution-focused brief therapy in the left-brain hemisphere while connecting to the client through the right-brain hemisphere. This combined method incorporates five key principles: the therapeutic relationship, co-construction of reality, use of questions, a focus on solutions, and emphasis on positive emotions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (SPL3) ◽  
pp. 1861-1868
Author(s):  
Bianca Princeton ◽  
Abilasha R ◽  
Preetha S

Oral hygiene is defined as the practice of keeping the mouth clean and healthy, by brushing and flossing to prevent the occurrence of any gum diseases like periodontitis or gingivitis. The main aim of oral health hygiene is to prevent the buildup of plaque, which is defined as a sticky film of bacteria and food formed on the teeth. The coastal guard is an official who is employed to watch the sea near a coast for ships that are in danger or involved with illegal activities. Coastal guards have high possibilities of being affected by mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure. So, a questionnaire consisting of 20 questions was created and circulated among a hundred participants who were coastal guards, through Google forms. The responses were recorded and tabulated in the form of bar graphs. Out of a hundred participants, 52.4% were not aware of the fact that coastal guards have high chances of developing lung cancer and Mesothelioma. 53.7% were aware of the other oral manifestations of lung cancer other than bleeding gums. Majority of the coastal guards feel that they are given enough information about dental hygiene protocols. Hence, to conclude, oral hygiene habits have to be elaborated using various tools in the right manner to ensure better health of teeth and gums.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-107
Author(s):  
Cheri Bayuni Budjang

Buying and selling is a way to transfer land rights according to the provisions in Article 37 paragraph (1) of Government Regulation Number 24 of 1997 concerning Land Registration which must include the deed of the Land Deed Making Official to register the right of land rights (behind the name) to the Land Office to create legal certainty and minimize the risks that occur in the future. However, in everyday life there is still a lot of buying and selling land that is not based on the laws and regulations that apply, namely only by using receipts and trust in each other. This is certainly very detrimental to both parties in the transfer of rights (behind the name), especially if the other party is not known to exist like the Case in Decision Number 42 / Pdt.G / 2010 / PN.Mtp


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Maria Felisberti

Visual field asymmetries (VFA) in the encoding of groups rather than individual faces has been rarely investigated. Here, eye movements (dwell time (DT) and fixations (Fix)) were recorded during the encoding of three groups of four faces tagged with cheating, cooperative, or neutral behaviours. Faces in each of the three groups were placed in the upper left (UL), upper right (UR), lower left (LL), or lower right (LR) quadrants. Face recognition was equally high in the three groups. In contrast, the proportion of DT and Fix were higher for faces in the left than the right hemifield and in the upper rather than the lower hemifield. The overall time spent looking at the UL was higher than in the other quadrants. The findings are relevant to the understanding of VFA in face processing, especially groups of faces, and might be linked to environmental cues and/or reading habits.


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