Lateralization of the avian magnetic compass : analysis of its early plasticity
Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
In European Robins, Erithacus rubecula, the magnetic compass is lateralized in favor of
the right eye/left hemisphere of the brain. This lateralization develops during the first winter and
initially shows a great plasticity. During the first spring migration, it can be temporarily removed by
covering the right eye. In the present paper, we used the migratory orientation of robins to analyze
the circumstances under which the lateralization can be undone. Already a period of 11/2 h being
monocularly left-eyed before tests began proved sufficient to restore the ability to use the left eye
for orientation, but this effect was rather short-lived, as lateralization recurred again within the next
11/2 h. Interpretable magnetic information mediated by the left eye was necessary for removing
the lateralization. In addition, monocularly, the left eye seeing robins could adjust to magnetic
intensities outside the normal functional window, but this ability was not transferred to the “right-eye
system”. Our results make it clear that asymmetry of magnetic compass perception is amenable to
short-term changes, depending on lateralized stimulation. This could mean that the left hemispheric
dominance for the analysis of magnetic compass information depends on lateralized interhemispheric
interactions that in young birds can swiftly be altered by environmental effects.
Description
CITATION: Gehring, D., et al. 2017. Lateralization of the avian magnetic compass : analysis of its early plasticity. Symmetry, 9(5):77, doi:10.3390/sym9050077.
The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com
The original publication is available at https://www.mdpi.com
Keywords
Avian magnetic compass, Cerebral dominance, Lateralization (Brain), Avian flyways, Bird migration routes
Citation
Gehring, D., et al. 2017. Lateralization of the avian magnetic compass : analysis of its early plasticity. Symmetry, 9(5):77, doi:10.3390/sym9050077