Handedness and laterality in humans and other animals

Simple Reaching Is Not So Simple: Association Between Hand Use and Grip Preferences in Captive Chimpanzees

“…Chimpanzee; hand preference; grip preference There has been considerable historical (Ettlinger, 1988;Fagot and Vauclair, 1991;Marchant and McGrew, 1991;Warren, 1980) and contemporary (Corballis, 1992, in press; Hopkins and Cantalupo, in press;McGrew and Marchant, 1997;Palmer, 2002) debate regarding the presence or absence of population-level hand preferences in nonhuman primates and the factors that influence the expression of handedness in nonhumans. The question of whether nonhuman primates express population-level asymmetries is of considerable theoretical interest because of the alleged role of hemispheric specialization in the evolution of complex human behavior including tool-use, bipedalism and language (Bradshaw and Rogers, 1993).…”

The use of bouts and frequencies in the evaluation of hand preferences for a coordinated bimanual task in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): An empirical study comparing two different indices of laterality.

“…The issue of whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness has been a topic of historical and recent debate (Ettlinger, 1988;Fagot & Vauclair, 1991;MacNeilage, StuddertKennedy, & Lindblom, 1987;Marchant & McGrew, 1991;Ward & Hopkins, 1993;Warren, 1980 …”

“…Taken together, these data do not support the view that bouts are a better level of analysis for evaluating hand preference. The results further suggest that hand preferences for coordinated bimanual actions are not influenced by situational factors and may reflect an inherent specialization of the left hemisphere for motor skill.The issue of whether nonhuman primates exhibit population-level handedness has been a topic of historical and recent debate (Ettlinger, 1988;Fagot & Vauclair, 1991;MacNeilage, StuddertKennedy, & Lindblom, 1987;Marchant & McGrew, 1991;Ward & Hopkins, 1993;Warren, 1980 …”

Heritability of hand preference in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Evidence from a partial interspecies cross-fostering study.

“…Both genetic models (Annett, 1985;Corballis, 1997;Laland, Kumm, Van Horn, & Feldman, 1995;McManus, 1985;Yeo & Gangestad, 1993) and environmental models (Collins, 1985;Provins, 1997) have been proposed to explain the origin of human hand preference. The principal data in support of a genetic basis for hand preference are that it runs in families (Curt, De Agostini, Maccario, & Dellatolas, 1995;Laland et al, 1995;McGee & Cozad, 1980;McManus & Bryden, 1992) and that offspring typically exhibit patterns of hand preference more similar to their biological parents compared with offspring who have been adopted or raised by stepparents (Carter-Saltzman, 1980;Hicks & Kinsbourne, 1976).In contrast with humans, the historical view has been that nonhuman animals, particularly nonhuman primates, do not exhibit population-level handedness (see Ettlinger, 1988;Warren, 1980). In recent years, behavioral research in a variety of nonhuman primate species has revealed that population-level handedness can be found in some species for certain measures (Bradshaw & Rogers, 1993;Fagot & Vauclair, 1991;W.…”

“…This rearing practice results effectively in a partial interspecies cross-fostering paradigm, which is a potentially powerful means by which to assess the effects of environmental and genetic factors on handedness (e.g., Carter-Saltzman, 1980). To date, no partial or complete cross-fostering studies have been performed in nonhuman primates, and they are necessary to test Warren's (1980) hypothesis that the mechanisms underlying hand preference differ in humans and nonhumans as well as to uncover basic information on the effects of gene-environment interactions on behavioral development in a species that is biologically very closely related to humans. …”