Abstract

In the human brain, distinct functions tend to be localized in the left or right hemispheres, with language ability usually localized predominantly in the left and spatial recognition in the right. Furthermore, humans are perhaps the only mammals who have preferential handedness, with more than 90% of the population more skilful at using the right hand, which is controlled by the left hemisphere. How is a distinct function consistently localized in one side of the human brain? Because of the convergence of molecular and neurological analysis, we are beginning to consider the puzzle of brain asymmetry and handedness at a molecular level.

Author affiliations

1. Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Cornell University Weill Medical College, Box 60, W820A, 1300 York Avenue, New York 10021, USA.
2. Department of Neurology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, New Research Building Room 0266, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.

Correspondence to: Tao Sun¹ Email: tas2009@med.cornell.edu

Correspondence to: Christopher A. Walsh² Email: cwalsh@bidmc.harvard.edu

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