Yakovlevian torque

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The Yakovlevian torque in the cerebrum (exaggerated). Redrawn from Toga & Thompson. Mapping brain asymmetry. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 4, 37-48 (2003). DOI 10.1038/nrn1009. YakovlevianTorque.png
The Yakovlevian torque in the cerebrum (exaggerated). Redrawn from Toga & Thompson. Mapping brain asymmetry. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 4, 37–48 (2003). DOI 10.1038/nrn1009.

Yakovlevian torque (also known as occipital bending (OB) [1] or counterclockwise brain torque [2] ) is the tendency of the right side of the human brain to be warped slightly forward relative to the left and the left side of the human brain to be warped slightly backward relative to the right. This is responsible for certain asymmetries, such as how the lateral sulcus of the human brain is often longer and less curved on the left side of the brain relative to the right. Stated in another way, Yakovlevian torque can be defined by the existence of right-frontal and left-occipital petalias, which are protrusions of the surface of one hemisphere relative to the other. It is named for Paul Ivan Yakovlev (1894–1983), a Russian-American neuroanatomist from Harvard Medical School. [3] [4]

Contents

Effects

Handedness

A 2012 literature review showed that morphometry studies had consistently found that handedness-related effects corresponded to the extent of the Yakovlevian torque; [5] increased torque, as measured by increased size of the right-frontal petalia and the left-occipital petalia, tends to be more common in right-handed individuals. [6] Individuals with mixed-handedness or left-handedness show reduced levels of Yakovlevian torque. [7]

Developmental stuttering

Reduced right-frontal and left-occipital petalias and reversed petalia asymmetries (that is, left-frontal and right occipital petalias) have been associated with developmental stuttering in both adults and pre-adolescent boys. [2] This may be tied to the lateral sulcus housing Broca's area, [5] which plays a significant role in production of language.

Bipolar disorder

Increased size of the left-occipital petalia, resulting from an abnormally high degree of Yakovlevian torque has been associated with bipolar disorder. [1] Maller et al. 2015 found that increased asymmetry of the occipital lobe, or occipital bending, was four times more prevalent in subjects with bipolar disorder than in healthy controls. [1] This applied both to patients with bipolar disorder type I and type II.

Development and evolution

There is some evidence suggesting that the Yakovlevian torque is related to the aurofacial asymmetry and the contralateral organization of the brain and is due to a not quite complete twist of the anterior part of the head. [8] According to the Axial Twist theory, each side of the brain represents the opposite body side due to a developmental twist along the body axis. [9]

Presence in primates

Yakovlevian torque is found in modern humans and fossil hominids, appearing reliably as early as Homo erectus . [6] The patterning of petalias in extinct human ancestors is examined via endocasts, wherein a cast is made of the cranial vault: the asymmetries of human ancestors can be measured from these casts because petalias leave impressions inside the cranial vault. [6]

Some authors have reported that similar petalia patterns are found in a number of primates including Old World monkeys, New World monkeys and Great apes, [10] but others report different protrusions; [11] [12] these differences seem to be tied to which techniques are used to measure the petalia, so it is not well-understood if all primates demonstrate Yakovlevian torque. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebral cortex</span> Outer layer of the cerebrum of the mammalian brain

The cerebral cortex, also known as the cerebral mantle, is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain in humans and other mammals. The cerebral cortex mostly consists of the six-layered neocortex, with just 10% consisting of the allocortex. It is separated into two cortices, by the longitudinal fissure that divides the cerebrum into the left and right cerebral hemispheres. The two hemispheres are joined beneath the cortex by the corpus callosum. The cerebral cortex is the largest site of neural integration in the central nervous system. It plays a key role in attention, perception, awareness, thought, memory, language, and consciousness. The cerebral cortex is part of the brain responsible for cognition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optic chiasm</span> Part of the brain where the optic nerves cross

In neuroanatomy, the optic chiasm, or optic chiasma, is the part of the brain where the optic nerves cross. It is located at the bottom of the brain immediately inferior to the hypothalamus. The optic chiasm is found in all vertebrates, although in cyclostomes, it is located within the brain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Handedness</span> Better performance or individual preference for use of a hand

In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to it being stronger, faster or more dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dextrous or simply less subjectively preferred, is called the non-dominant hand. In a study from 1975 on 7,688 children in US grades 1-6, left handers comprised 9.6% of the sample, with 10.5% of male children and 8.7% of female children being left-handed. Overall, around 90% of people are right-handed. Handedness is often defined by one's writing hand, as it is fairly common for people to prefer to do a particular task with a particular hand. There are people with true ambidexterity, but it is rare—most people prefer using one hand for most purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holoprosencephaly</span> Medical condition

Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a cephalic disorder in which the prosencephalon fails to develop into two hemispheres, typically occurring between the 18th and 28th day of gestation. Normally, the forebrain is formed and the face begins to develop in the fifth and sixth weeks of human pregnancy. The condition also occurs in other species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebral hemisphere</span> Left and right cerebral hemispheres of the brain

The vertebrate cerebrum (brain) is formed by two cerebral hemispheres that are separated by a groove, the longitudinal fissure. The brain can thus be described as being divided into left and right cerebral hemispheres. Each of these hemispheres has an outer layer of grey matter, the cerebral cortex, that is supported by an inner layer of white matter. In eutherian (placental) mammals, the hemispheres are linked by the corpus callosum, a very large bundle of nerve fibers. Smaller commissures, including the anterior commissure, the posterior commissure and the fornix, also join the hemispheres and these are also present in other vertebrates. These commissures transfer information between the two hemispheres to coordinate localized functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parietal lobe</span> Part of the brain responsible for sensory input and some language processing

The parietal lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The parietal lobe is positioned above the temporal lobe and behind the frontal lobe and central sulcus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerebrum</span> Large part of the brain containing the cerebral cortex

The cerebrum, telencephalon or endbrain is the largest part of the brain containing the cerebral cortex, as well as several subcortical structures, including the hippocampus, basal ganglia, and olfactory bulb. In the human brain, the cerebrum is the uppermost region of the central nervous system. The cerebrum develops prenatally from the forebrain (prosencephalon). In mammals, the dorsal telencephalon, or pallium, develops into the cerebral cortex, and the ventral telencephalon, or subpallium, becomes the basal ganglia. The cerebrum is also divided into approximately symmetric left and right cerebral hemispheres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planum temporale</span>

The planum temporale is the cortical area just posterior to the auditory cortex within the Sylvian fissure. It is a triangular region which forms the heart of Wernicke's area, one of the most important functional areas for language. Original studies on this area found that the planum temporale was one of the most asymmetric regions in the brain, with this area being up to ten times larger in the left cerebral hemisphere than the right.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lateral ventricles</span> Two largest ventricles in each cerebral hemisphere

The lateral ventricles are the two largest ventricles of the brain and contain cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Each cerebral hemisphere contains a lateral ventricle, known as the left or right lateral ventricle, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Facial symmetry</span> One specific measure of bodily symmetry

Facial symmetry is one specific measure of bodily symmetry. Along with traits such as averageness and youthfulness, it influences judgments of aesthetic traits of physical attractiveness and beauty. For instance, in mate selection, people have been shown to have a preference for symmetry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuneus</span> Region in the occipital lobe of the brain

The cuneus is a smaller lobe in the occipital lobe of the brain. The cuneus is bounded anteriorly by the parieto-occipital sulcus and inferiorly by the calcarine sulcus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parieto-occipital sulcus</span> Fold which separates the parietal and occipital lobes of the brain

In neuroanatomy, the parieto-occipital sulcus is a deep sulcus in the cerebral cortex that marks the boundary between the cuneus and precuneus, and also between the parietal and occipital lobes. Only a small part can be seen on the lateral surface of the hemisphere, its chief part being on the medial surface.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brain asymmetry</span> Term in human neuroanatomy referring to several things

In human neuroanatomy, brain asymmetry can refer to at least two quite distinct findings:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paleoneurobiology</span> Study of brain evolution using brain endocasts

Paleoneurobiology is the study of brain evolution by analysis of brain endocasts to determine endocranial traits and volumes. Considered a subdivision of neuroscience, paleoneurobiology combines techniques from other fields of study including paleontology and archaeology. It reveals specific insight concerning human evolution. The cranium is unique in that it grows in response to the growth of brain tissue rather than genetic guidance, as is the case with bones that support movement. Fossil skulls and their endocasts can be compared to each other, to the skulls and fossils of recently deceased individuals, and even compared to those of other species to make inferences about functional anatomy, physiology and phylogeny. Paleoneurobiology is in large part influenced by developments in neuroscience as a whole; without substantial knowledge about current functionality, it would be impossible to make inferences about the functionality of ancient brains.

In evolutionary developmental biology, inversion refers to the hypothesis that during the course of animal evolution, the structures along the dorsoventral (DV) axis have taken on an orientation opposite that of the ancestral form.

Dichotic listening is a psychological test commonly used to investigate selective attention and the lateralization of brain function within the auditory system. It is used within the fields of cognitive psychology and neuroscience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Contralateral brain</span> Each side of the forebrain represents the opposite side of the body

The contralateral organization of the forebrain is the property that the hemispheres of the cerebrum and the thalamus represent mainly the contralateral side of the body. Consequently, the left side of the forebrain mostly represents the right side of the body, and the right side of the brain primarily represents the left side of the body. The contralateral organization involves both executive and sensory functions. The contralateral organization is only present in vertebrates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axial twist theory</span> Scientific theory in vertebrate development

The axial twist theory is a scientific theory put forward to explain a range of unusual aspects of the body plan of vertebrates. It proposes that the rostral part of the head is "turned around" regarding the rest of the body. This end-part consists of the face as well as part of the brain. According to the theory, the vertebrate body has a left-handed chirality.

An estimated 90% of the world's human population consider themselves to be right-handed. The human brain's control of motor function is a mirror image in terms of connectivity; the left hemisphere controls the right hand and vice versa. This theoretically means that the hemisphere contralateral to the dominant hand tends to be more dominant than the ipsilateral hemisphere, however this is not always the case and there are numerous other factors which contribute in complex ways to physical hand preference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chiasm (anatomy)</span> Nerve crossings outside the central nervous system

In anatomy a chiasm is the spot where two structures cross, forming an X-shape. Examples of chiasms are:

References

  1. 1 2 3 Maller, Jerome J.; Anderson, Rodney; Thomson, Richard H.; Rosenfeld, Jeffrey V.; Daskalakis, Zafiris J.; Fitzgerald, Paul B. (2015-01-30). "Occipital bending (Yakovlevian torque) in bipolar depression". Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging. 231 (1): 8–14. doi:10.1016/j.pscychresns.2014.11.008. ISSN   0925-4927. PMID   25480522. S2CID   37224862.
  2. 1 2 Mock, Jeffrey; Zadina, Janet; Corey, David; Cohen, Jeremy; Lemen, Lisa; Foundas, Anne (2012). "Atypical Brain Torque in Boys With Developmental Stuttering". Developmental Neuropsychology. 37 (5): 434–452. doi:10.1080/87565641.2012.661816. PMC   5537737 . PMID   22799762.
  3. ↑ Toga, A.W.; Thompson, P.M. (2003). "Mapping brain asymmetry". Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 4 (1): 37–48. doi:10.1038/nrn1009. PMID   12511860. S2CID   15867592.
  4. ↑ Carter, Rita, The Human Brain Book, p. 57, ISBN   978-0-7566-5441-2, Dorling Kindersley Limited, 2009
  5. 1 2 Renteria, Miguel E. (March 26, 2012). "Cerebral Asymmetry: A Quantitative, Multifactorial, and Plastic Brain Phenotype" (PDF). Twin Research and Human Genetics. 15 (3): 401–413. doi:10.1017/thg.2012.13. PMID   22856374. S2CID   6685337 . Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Phillips, Kimberly A.; Sherwood, Chet C. (June 11, 2007). "Cerebral Petalias and Their Relationship to Handedness in Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella)". Neuropsychologia. 45 (10): 2398–2401. doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2007.02.021. PMC   1959338 . PMID   17418285.
  7. ↑ Guadalupe, Tulio; Willems, Roel; Zwiers, Marcel; Vasquez, Alejandro; Hoogman, Martine; Hagoort, Peter; Fernandez, Guillen; Jan, Buitelaar; Franke, Barbara; Fisher, Simon; Francks, Clyde (March 28, 2014). "Differences in cerebral cortical anatomy of left- and right-handers". Frontiers in Psychology. 5 (26): 261. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00261 . PMC   3975119 . PMID   24734025.
  8. ↑ de Lussanet, M.H.E. (2019). "Opposite asymmetries of face and trunk and of kissing and hugging, as predicted by the axial twist hypothesis". PeerJ. 7: e7096. doi: 10.7717/peerj.7096 . PMC   6557252 . PMID   31211022.
  9. ↑ de Lussanet, M. H. E.; Osse, J. W. M. (2012). "An ancestral axial twist explains the contralateral forebain and the optic chiasm in vertebrates". Animal Biology. 62 (2): 193–216. arXiv: 1003.1872 . doi:10.1163/157075611X617102. S2CID   7399128.
  10. ↑ Hopkins, WD; Marino, L (2000). "Asymmetries in cerebral width in nonhuman primate brains as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)". Neuropsychologia. 38 (4): 493–9. doi:10.1016/s0028-3932(99)00090-1. PMID   10683399. S2CID   40689952.
  11. ↑ Holloway, RL; De (1982). "Some preliminary findings of the paleontology of cerebral dominance". American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 58 (1): 110. doi:10.1002/ajpa.1330580111. PMID   6812430.
  12. ↑ LeMay, M (1976). "Morphological cerebral asymmetries of modern man, fossil man, and nonhuman primate". Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. 280 (1): 349–366. Bibcode:1976NYASA.280..349L. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.1976.tb25499.x. PMID   827951. S2CID   46070451.
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