Records |
Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Krueger, K.; Schwarz, S.; Marr, I.; Farmer, K. |
Title |
Laterality in Horse Training: Psychological and Physical Balance and Coordination and Strength Rather Than Straightness |
Type |
Magazine Article |
Year |
2022 |
Publication |
Animals |
Abbreviated Journal |
Animals |
Volume |
12 |
Issue |
8 |
Pages |
1042 |
Keywords |
balance; body asymmetry; equitation; horse; motor laterality; sensory laterality; stress; welfare |
Abstract |
For centuries, a goal of training in many equestrian disciplines has been to straighten the horse, which is considered a key element in achieving its responsiveness and suppleness. However, laterality is a naturally occurring phenomenon in horses and encompasses body asymmetry, motor laterality and sensory laterality. Furthermore, forcibly counterbalancing motor laterality has been considered a cause of psychological imbalance in humans. Perhaps asymmetry and laterality should rather be accepted, with a focus on training psychological and physical balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides instead of enforcing “straightness”. To explore this, we conducted a review of the literature on the function and causes of motor and sensory laterality in horses, especially in horses when trained on the ground or under a rider. The literature reveals that body asymmetry is innate but does not prevent the horse from performing at a high level under a rider. Motor laterality is equally distributed in feral horses, while in domestic horses, age, breed, training and carrying a rider may cause left leg preferences. Most horses initially observe novel persons and potentially threatening objects or situations with their left sensory organs. Pronounced preferences for the use of left sensory organs or limbs indicate that the horse is experiencing increased emotionality or stress, and long-term insufficiencies in welfare, housing or training may result in left shifts in motor and sensory laterality and pessimistic mentalities. Therefore, increasing laterality can be regarded as an indicator for insufficiencies in housing, handling and training. We propose that laterality be recognized as a welfare indicator and that straightening the horse should be achieved by conducting training focused on balance, coordination and equal strength on both sides. |
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Animals |
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12 |
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8 |
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2076-2615 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
6670 |
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Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Krishnan, A.; Gandour, J.T.; Ananthakrishnan, S.; Bidelman, G.M.; Smalt, C.J. |
Title |
Functional ear (a)symmetry in brainstem neural activity relevant to encoding of voice pitch: A precursor for hemispheric specialization? |
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Journal Article |
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Brain and Language |
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In Press, Corrected Proof |
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Pages |
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Keywords |
Auditory; Human; Brainstem; Pitch; Language; Mandarin Chinese; Fundamental frequency-following response (FFR); Functional ear asymmetry; Experience-dependent plasticity; Subcortical |
Abstract |
Pitch processing is lateralized to the right hemisphere; linguistic pitch is further mediated by left cortical areas. This experiment investigates whether ear asymmetries vary in brainstem representation of pitch depending on linguistic status. Brainstem frequency-following responses (FFRs) were elicited by monaural stimulation of the left and right ear of 15 native speakers of Mandarin Chinese using two synthetic speech stimuli that differ in linguistic status of tone. One represented a native lexical tone (Tone 2: T2); the other, T2', a nonnative variant in which the pitch contour was a mirror image of T2 with the same starting and ending frequencies. Two 40-ms portions of f0 contours were selected in order to compare two regions (R1, early; R2 late) differing in pitch acceleration rate and perceptual saliency. In R2, linguistic status effects revealed that T2 exhibited a larger degree of FFR rightward ear asymmetry as reflected in f0 amplitude relative to T2'. Relative to midline (ear asymmetry = 0), the only ear asymmetry reaching significance was that favoring left ear stimulation elicited by T2'. By left- and right-ear stimulation separately, FFRs elicited by T2 were larger than T2' in the right ear only. Within T2', FFRs elicited by the earlier region were larger than the later in both ears. Within T2, no significant differences in FFRS were observed between regions in either ear. Collectively, these findings support the idea that origins of cortical processing preferences for perceptually-salient portions of pitch are rooted in early, preattentive stages of processing in the brainstem. |
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0093-934x |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5391 |
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Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Giljov, A.; Karenina, K. |
Title |
Differential roles of the right and left brain hemispheres in the social interactions of a free-ranging ungulate |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2019 |
Publication |
Behavioural Processes |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav. Process. |
Volume |
168 |
Issue |
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Pages |
103959 |
Keywords |
Laterality; Hemispheric specialization; Brain asymmetry; Eye preference; Ungulate; Bovid |
Abstract |
Despite the abundant empirical evidence on lateralized social behaviours, a clear understanding of the relative roles of two brain hemispheres in social processing is still lacking. This study investigated visual lateralization in social interactions of free-ranging European bison (Bison bonasus). The bison were more likely to display aggressive responses (such as fight and side hit), when they viewed the conspecific with the right visual field, implicating the left brain hemisphere. In contrast, the responses associated with positive social interactions (female-to-calf bonding, calf-to-female approach, suckling) or aggression inhibition (fight termination) occurred more likely when the left visual field was in use, indicating the right hemisphere advantage. The results do not support either assumptions of right-hemisphere dominance for control of various social functions or hypotheses about simple positive (approach) versus negative (withdrawal) distinction between the hemispheric roles. The discrepancy between the studies suggests that in animals, the relative roles of the hemispheres in social processing may be determined by a fine balance of emotions and motivations associated with the particular social reaction difficult to categorize for a human investigator. Our findings highlight the involvement of both brain hemispheres in the control of social behaviour. |
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0376-6357 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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6587 |
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Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Corballis, M.C. |
Title |
Of mice and men – and lopsided birds |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2008 |
Publication |
Cortex |
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44 |
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1 |
Pages |
3-7 |
Keywords |
Cerebral asymmetry; Handedness; Evolution; Laterality |
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The article by Zucca and Sovrano (2008, this issue) represents part of a new wave of studies of lateralization in nonhuman species. This work is often in conflict with earlier studies of human cerebral asymmetry and handedness, and the associated claim that these asymmetries are uniquely human, and perhaps even a result of the “speciation event” that led to modern humans. It is now apparent that there are close parallels between human and nonhuman asymmetries, suggesting that they have ancient roots. I argue that asymmetries must be seen in the context of a bilaterally symmetrical body plan, and that there is a balance to be struck between the adaptive advantages of symmetry and asymmetry. In human evolution, systematic asymmetries were incorporated into activities that probably are unique to our species, but the precursors of these asymmetries are increasingly evident in other species, including frogs, fish, birds, and mammals – especially primates. |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4634 |
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Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Cloutier, S.; Newberry, R.C. |
Title |
Differences in skeletal and ornamental traits between laying hen cannibals, victims and bystanders |
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Journal Article |
Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Applied Animal Behaviour Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci. |
Volume |
77 |
Issue |
2 |
Pages |
115-126 |
Keywords |
Domestic fowl; Asymmetry; Skeletal traits; Comb size; Cannibalism |
Abstract |
We compared the size of skeletal and ornamental traits, and asymmetries in bilateral skeletal traits, between victims of cannibalism, cannibals and bystanders within small groups of caged female White Leghorns at the time of cannibalistic attacks (i.e. injurious pecks resulting in bleeding). We hypothesised that victims of cannibalism have discernible morphological traits that predispose them to cannibalistic attack. We predicted that victims would have smaller skeletal traits (body length, ulna length, metatarsus length and width, toe length), lower body weight, poorer body condition, smaller combs and more asymmetrical bilateral skeletal traits than their flock mates. Contrary to our prediction, victims of cannibalistic attacks to the head/neck area (N=23) tended to have larger combs than their flock mates (Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test, S=59, P=0.037, NS after sequential Bonferroni adjustment). Their cannibals were more asymmetrical than non-cannibalistic bystanders (metatarsus length, S=48, P=0.011 and composite asymmetry, S=62.5, P=0.002, significant after sequential Bonferroni adjustment). In agreement with our prediction, victims of cannibalistic attacks to other body parts (N=27), including the back, wings, rump, tail, cloaca, abdomen and toes, were more asymmetrical (composite asymmetry, S=78, P=0.022, significant after sequential Bonferroni adjustment) and tended to have lower body weights (S=79.5, P=0.029, NS after sequential Bonferroni adjustment) than their flock mates. Their cannibals did not differ in skeletal or ornamental traits from the non-participating bystanders. The results suggest that large combs either elicit attacks to the head and neck area or increase vulnerability to injury during such attacks. Attacks to other body parts appear to be directed towards birds with signs of weakness relative to their flock mates. In these attacks, there were no distinguishing features separating cannibals from bystanders, suggesting that the bystanders could all be potential cannibals. |
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2092 |
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Author ![sorted by Author field, descending order (down)](img/sort_desc.gif) |
Austin, N.P.; Rogers, L.J. |
Title |
Limb preferences and lateralization of aggression, reactivity and vigilance in feral horses, Equus caballus |
Type |
Journal Article |
Year |
2012 |
Publication |
Animal Behaviour |
Abbreviated Journal |
Anim. Behav. |
Volume |
83 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
239-247 |
Keywords |
aggression; behavioural asymmetry; Equus caballus; eye preference; feral horse; limb preference; reactivity; side bias |
Abstract |
Observational field studies were conducted on two remote populations of feral horses in Australia to determine whether lateralization is a characteristic of Equus caballus as a species or results from handling by humans. Group 1 had been feral for two to five generations and Group 2 for 10–20 generations. In both groups, left-side biases were present during agonistic interactions and in reactivity and vigilance. Therefore, as in other vertebrates, the right hemisphere appears to be specialized to control agonistic behaviour and responses to potential threats. The leftwards bias was stronger in measures of behaviour involving more aggression and reactivity. Preferences to place one forelimb in front of the other during grazing were also determined. No population bias of forelimb preference was found, suggesting that such limb preferences present in domestic horses may be entrained. Since stronger individual limb preferences were found in immature than in adult feral horses, limb preference may be modified by maturation or experience in the natural habitat. Stronger limb preference was associated significantly with elevated attention to the environment but only in younger feral horses. No sex differences in lateralization were found. The findings are evidence that horses show visual lateralization, as in other vertebrates, not dependent on handling by humans. Limb preference during grazing, by contrast, does appear to depend on experience. |
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0003-3472 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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5651 |
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