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Symmetry
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Symmetry and Asymmetry in Brain Behavior and Perception II
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Symmetry and Asymmetry in Brain Behavior and Perception II

A special issue of Symmetry (ISSN 2073-8994). This special issue belongs to the section "Life Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 10330

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Mara Fabri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Interests: brain hemisheres; animal and human brain; lateralized functions; lateralized perception; symmetry perception; asymmetry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

All veterbrates are apparently symmetrical in their anatomical external structure. Many internal organs also display apparent symmetrical organization, especially in the brain. This leads us to also expect symmetry in brain functions, such as in behaviour and perception. However, upon closer inspection, such symmetry is only superficial. The most relevant example of this is the hand/limb preference, which has been documented in many animals other than humans. Is this asymmetry due to internal conditions or is it determined by external factors? Does this asymmetry in turn provoke other side differences in perception and behaviour?

In this Special Issue of Symmetry, we will analyze symmetry and asymmetry in animals’ and humans’ behaviour and perception. Since these functions are strictly related to each other, being the result of an internal drive and a sensory modulation, it is important to try to elucidate which comes first, i.e., if asymmetrical behaviour can be generated by asymmetrical perception, and how; or vice versa, if asymetrical perception follows asymmetrical behaviour.

Prof. Mara Fabri
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Symmetry is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • brain hemisheres
  • animal and human brain
  • lateralized functions
  • lateralized perception

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 2352 KiB  
Article
The Contribution of the Corpus Callosum to the Symmetrical Representation of Taste in the Human Brain: An fMRI Study of Callosotomized Patients
by Gabriele Polonara, Giulia Mascioli, Ugo Salvolini, Aldo Paggi, Tullio Manzoni and Mara Fabri
Symmetry 2023, 15(12), 2188; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym15122188 - 12 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1206
Abstract
The present study was designed to establish the contribution of the corpus callosum (CC) to the cortical representation of unilateral taste stimuli in the human primary gustatory area (GI). Unilateral taste stimulation of the tongue was applied to eight patients with partial or [...] Read more.
The present study was designed to establish the contribution of the corpus callosum (CC) to the cortical representation of unilateral taste stimuli in the human primary gustatory area (GI). Unilateral taste stimulation of the tongue was applied to eight patients with partial or total callosal resection by placing a small cotton pad soaked in a salty solution on either side of the tongue. Functional images were acquired with a 1.5 Tesla machine. Diffusion tensor imaging and tractography were also performed. Unilateral taste stimuli evoked bilateral activation of the GI area in all patients, including those with total resection of the CC, with a prevalence in the ipsilateral hemisphere to the stimulated tongue side. Bilateral activation was also observed in the primary somatic sensory cortex (SI) in most patients, which was more intense in the contralateral SI. This report confirms previous functional studies carried out in control subjects and neuropsychological findings in callosotomized patients, showing that gustatory pathways from tongue to cortex are bilaterally distributed, with an ipsilateral predominance. It has been shown that the CC does play a role, although not an exclusive one, in the bilateral symmetrical representation of gustatory sensitivity in the GI area, at least for afferents from one side of the tongue. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry and Asymmetry in Brain Behavior and Perception II)
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43 pages, 11181 KiB  
Article
Neurofunctional Symmetries and Asymmetries during Voluntary out-of- and within-Body Vivid Imagery Concurrent with Orienting Attention and Visuospatial Detection
by Amedeo D’Angiulli, Darren Kenney, Dao Anh Thu Pham, Etienne Lefebvre, Justin Bellavance and Derrick Matthew Buchanan
Symmetry 2021, 13(8), 1549; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13081549 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4107
Abstract
We explored whether two visual mental imagery experiences may be differentiated by electroencephalographic (EEG) and performance interactions with concurrent orienting external attention (OEA) to stimulus location and subsequent visuospatial detection. We measured within-subject (N = 10) event-related potential (ERP) changes during out-of-body imagery [...] Read more.
We explored whether two visual mental imagery experiences may be differentiated by electroencephalographic (EEG) and performance interactions with concurrent orienting external attention (OEA) to stimulus location and subsequent visuospatial detection. We measured within-subject (N = 10) event-related potential (ERP) changes during out-of-body imagery (OBI)—vivid imagery of a vertical line outside of the head/body—and within-body imagery (WBI)—vivid imagery of the line within one’s own head. Furthermore, we measured ERP changes and line offset Vernier acuity (hyperacuity) performance concurrent with those imagery, compared to baseline detection without imagery. Relative to OEA baseline, OBI yielded larger N200 and P300, whereas WBI yielded larger P50, P100, N400, and P800. Additionally, hyperacuity dropped significantly when concurrent with both imagery types. Partial least squares analysis combined behavioural performance, ERPs, and/or event-related EEG band power (ERBP). For both imagery types, hyperacuity reduction correlated with opposite frontal and occipital ERP amplitude and polarity changes. Furthermore, ERP modulation and ERBP synchronizations for all EEG frequencies correlated inversely with hyperacuity. Dipole Source Localization Analysis revealed unique generators in the left middle temporal gyrus (WBI) and in the right frontal middle gyrus (OBI), whereas the common generators were in the left precuneus and middle occipital cortex (cuneus). Imagery experiences, we conclude, can be identified by symmetric and asymmetric combined neurophysiological-behavioural patterns in interactions with the width of attentional focus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry and Asymmetry in Brain Behavior and Perception II)
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16 pages, 1946 KiB  
Article
The Bias toward the Right Side of Others Is Stronger for Hands than for Feet
by Chiara Lucafò, Daniele Marzoli, Przemysław Zdybek, Gianluca Malatesta, Federico Smerilli, Cosimo Ferrara and Luca Tommasi
Symmetry 2021, 13(1), 146; https://doi.org/10.3390/sym13010146 - 17 Jan 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3654
Abstract
As shown by a series of previous studies, ambiguous human bodies performing unimanual or unipedal actions tend to be perceived more frequently as right-handed or right-footed rather than left-handed or left-footed, which indicates a perceptual and attentional bias toward the right side of [...] Read more.
As shown by a series of previous studies, ambiguous human bodies performing unimanual or unipedal actions tend to be perceived more frequently as right-handed or right-footed rather than left-handed or left-footed, which indicates a perceptual and attentional bias toward the right side of others’ body. However, none of such studies assessed whether the relative strength of such a bias differs between the upper and lower limbs. Indeed, given that the prevalence of right-handedness is slightly larger than that of right-footedness, and given that hands provide more information than feet as regards both communicative and aggressive acts, it is plausible that the bias toward the right side of human bodies should be stronger for the hand than for the foot. We performed three experiments in each of which participants had to indicate the rotating direction (revealing the perceived handedness/footedness) of ambiguous human figures with either one limb (arm or leg) or two limbs (one arm and the contralateral leg) extended. The hypothesized advantage of the right hand over the right foot was found in both the second and the third experiment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symmetry and Asymmetry in Brain Behavior and Perception II)
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