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The key question of this project is the functional significance of brain lateralization. This is studied from an evolutionary approach. We address the question if there is an evolutionary advantage to brain and behavioral lateralization. Various studies address the influence of cross-sex hormones on the development of lateralization; advantages of a lateralized organization of the brain; and relations between markers of Darwinnian fitness and lateralization.

Main project

This project is part of project "Lateralization".

Researchers and partners

Behavioural and Social Sciences, Psychology

• Dr. M. (Marije) aan het Rot, Clinical Psychology
• Dr. R.H. (Reint) Geuze, PI, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology
• T. (Tess) Beking, MSc. PhD student, Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology
• F.E. (Fleur) van der Veen, MSc , Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology

Behavioural and Socials Sciences, outside of Psychology

• Dr. M. (Marije) aan het Rot

University of Groningen, outside of Behavioural and Socials Sciences

• Prof. Dr. A.G.G. Groothuis, Behavioral Biology, Gelifes, FWN
• Nele Zickert, Msc, PhD student, Behavioral Biology, Gelifes, FWN

Education

Selection of BA and MA student projects

• Relations between hand preference or hand skill asymmetry and various Darwinian fitness related aspects such as health, offspring, creativity and characteristics of social interaction.
• As the project is likely to end by the end of 2017 chances for new masterthesis projects are low.

Results

Publications

• Geuze R.H., Schaafsma, S.M., Lust J.M., Bouma A., Schiefenhövel W., Groothuis A.G.G. (2012) Plasticity of lateralization: schooling predicts hand preference but not hand skill asymmetry in a non-industrial society. Neuropsychologia 50, 612-620. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2011.12.017
• Groothuis T.G.G., McManus I.C., Schaafsma S.M. & Geuze R.H. (2013) The fighting hypothesis in combat: how well does the fighting hypothesis explain human left-handed minorities? Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1288: 100-109. doi: 10.1111/nyas.12164
• Schaafsma, S.M., Geuze, R.H., Riedstra, B., Schiefenhövel, W., Bouma, A. & Groothuis, A.G.G. (2012). Handedness in a pre-industrial society challenges the fighting hypothesis as an evolutionary explanation of left-handedness. Evolution and Human Behavior 33, 94-99.
• Lust, J.M., Geuze, R.H., Van de Beek, C., Cohen-Kettenis, P.T., Bouma, A. & Groothuis, A.G.G. (2011). Differential effects of prenatal testosterone on lateralization of handedness and language. Neuropsychology 25: 581-589. doi: 10.1037/a0023293
• Geuze, R.H., Zickert, N., Beking, T., Lust, J.M., Groothuis, T.G.G. (2016) Is hersenlateralisatie verschillend tussen links- en rechtshandigen? Neuropraxis 20(4), 115-120. DOI 10.1007/s12474-016-0128-1

Successful grant proposals and other achievements

• 2006 NWO: Evolution programme: Project: Function and evolution of brain lateralization in animals and humans. (Groothuis, Bouma, Geuze) PhD’s JM Lust & SM Schaafsma en postdoc; Euro ~400,000 Euro Projektnummer: 051-14-036
• 2008 Gratama Fonds: Reis en onderzoekskosten Nieuw Guinea - ~Euro 15,000
• 2013 NWO: Research talent grant (Geuze, Beking, Groothuis) Euro 60,000
• PhD T. Beking Projektnummer: 406-13-101
• Projekt: ‘Sex hormones, lateralization and cognitive performance’
• 2016 5th North Sea Conference on Lateralization. Groningen, 1-3 Sept. 2016 - Organisatie: Beking, Bredero, Geuze, Groothuis, Zickert. Several small grants.

More information

• Publieksactiviteiten Weekend van de Wetenschap – 4 en 5 okt. NEMO Amsterdam; Apenheul Apeldoorn; Universiteitsmuseum Groningen; en Bernoulliborg Groningen: Publieksdeelname en -interactie over het onderzoek Handvoorkeur en handvaardigheid en creativiteit; zie www.hetweekendvandewetenschap.nl
• Nationaal onderzoek – internetstudie Handvoorkeur en Creativiteit (zie www.helpeenhandje.nl)
• Schriftelijk interview NU.nl http://www.nu.nl/wetenschap/3892111/nederlandse-wetenschappers-onderzoeken-linkshandigheid.html
• Radio interview NPO Radio 1 - dd 11 april 2015 12:45