Brain, Vol. 126, No. 12, 2773-2775,
December 2003
© 2003 Guarantors of Brain
doi: 10.1093/brain/awg258
Book Review |
THE ASYMMETRICAL BRAIN
Department of Psychiatry, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands
THE ASYMMETRICAL BRAIN
Edited by Kenneth Hugdahl and Richard Davidson
2003. MIT Press
Price $90. ISBN 0-262-08309-4.
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
This book provides an update of the scientific research on cerebral asymmetry. In 1995, Brain Asymmetry, from the same editors, appeared. Since then, the field progressed rapidly by the introduction of new neuro-imaging techniques, which enabled more detailed study of anatomical and functional differences between the hemispheres. This book is not an update but a new book that consists of 21 original chapters from various authors, divided over seven major parts that include: animal models of asymmetry and basic asymmetrical functions, neuro-imaging studies, visual asymmetry, auditory asymmetry, emotional asymmetry and applications for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
In part one (animal models and basic functions), Güntürkün provides an extensive review of the visual system of birds. Several bird species have a remarkably better pattern recognition with their right eye–left hemisphere than with the left eye–right hemisphere system. The main advantage of studying birds is the ease with which each eye