Comparative Vertebrate Lateralization

Abstract

The idea of this book was conceived at the time Richard Andrew retired from his professorial position at Sussex University. It is a celebration of his lifelong contribution to the study of ethology. In that sense, however, it is premature because Richard Andrew has far from retired from highly active research, shown most clearly by his contributions to this book. If anything, his 'retirement' has allowed him to develop his ideas, especially on lateralization, and structure them in a way that unifies the field. For this reason, it was important for Richard and me to work together in editing this volume and for Richard to contribute key chapters that develop his recent lines of thought. Our aim was to collect together a volume of recent research on lateralization in a wide range of vertebrate species and to highlight model systems that have been valuable in elucidating the function of lateralization, its causes, its development and its evolution.Although Richard Andrew's contribution to ethology has been much wider than in the fields of lateralization, this book celebrates his important contribution to the study of lateralization. We hope it demonstrates that knowledge of lateralization clarifies certain problems in the study of brain and behaviour, especially memory formation, and provides an excellent basis for future research with broad implications in the fields of development and genetics. The field of lateralization has 'come of age' largely because it provides a firm basis on which to examine a number of important issues in the study of brain and behaviour.