Animals and people: the secret side preferences unveiled!

Animals and people: the secret side preferences unveiled!

The question of hand -oriented is not only important for humans, but also extends to numerous animal species. A groundbreaking study by Prof. Dr. Sebastian Ocklenburg and his team shows that motor side preferences are widespread. The researchers who cooperate between the Ruhr University Bochum, Heinrich-Heine University of Düsseldorf and the Jülich research center research center found that over 72% of the 172 animal species analyzed have a preferred page.

The knowledge of motor side preferences, which has long been considered a human peculiarity, raises new questions about the evolution of the functional organization of the motor system in the brain. As Medical School Hamburg could indicate that these preferences could be found in a deeper biological basis have.

motor side preferences in animals

Research shows that motor preferences, or the preference for a certain paw or fin are also pronounced in animals. For example, a study analyzed 119 animal species, including cats, parrots and various mammals. According to Geo , it turned out that more than two thirds of these species show a clear side preference, while around a third did not have a clear preference.

The situation is particularly interesting for pets: a meta -analysis illustrates that over 75% of the cats are either right -hand or left -handed. Dogs have shown that over two thirds also prefer a certain paw. Leather turtles in particular show preference for the right rear fin when it comes to laying eggs. Even animals such as squids and gazami crabs show a pronounced preference when they grab or open mussels.

The evolution of hand -oriented

The examination of motor preferences not only offers insights into animal behavior, but also into the evolutionary basics of handfulness. Research on this topic has developed significantly in recent years. An article by George F. Michel et al. Treats the development processes behind the hand and takes a look at the connection between motor skills and cognitive functions. This article can be found on PubMed .

Hemispheric lateralization plays a crucial role here, which is subject to both genetic and environmental factors. Modern research has emphasized the importance of extended evolutionary synthesis (EES), which enables new approaches to investigate the development of lateralization and handiness. Such findings are of crucial importance for understanding the evolutionary history.

Overall, the current studies show that motor side preferences are a widespread and evolutionarily significant phenomenon. Both people and animals are a key to deciphering complex biological and neurological processes, which continues to make research areas exciting and relevant.