Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal
Mirror-image confusions are common, especially in children and in some cases of neurological impairment. They can be a special impediment in activities such as reading and writing directional scripts, where mirror-image patterns (such as b and d) must be distinguished. Treating mirror images as equi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-04-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00140/full |
| _version_ | 1811268217276989440 |
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| author | Michael C. Corballis |
| author_facet | Michael C. Corballis |
| author_sort | Michael C. Corballis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mirror-image confusions are common, especially in children and in some cases of neurological impairment. They can be a special impediment in activities such as reading and writing directional scripts, where mirror-image patterns (such as b and d) must be distinguished. Treating mirror images as equivalent, though, can also be adaptive in the natural world, which carries no systematic left-right bias and where the same object or event can appear in opposite viewpoints. Mirror-image equivalence and confusion are natural consequences of a bilaterally symmetrical brain. In the course of learning, mirror-image equivalence may be established through a process of symmetrization, achieved through homotopic interhemispheric exchange in the formation of memory circuits. Such circuits would not distinguish between mirror images. Learning to discriminate mirror-image discriminations may depend either on existing brain asymmetries, or on extensive learning overriding the symmetrization process. The balance between mirror-image equivalence and mirror-image discrimination may nevertheless be precarious, with spontaneous confusions or reversals, such as mirror writing, sometimes appearing naturally or as a manifestation of conditions like dyslexia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:17:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-289267f5b971438691a22e821bc246d2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-5161 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:17:50Z |
| publishDate | 2018-04-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-289267f5b971438691a22e821bc246d22022-12-22T03:16:22ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Human Neuroscience1662-51612018-04-011210.3389/fnhum.2018.00140352649Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image ReversalMichael C. CorballisMirror-image confusions are common, especially in children and in some cases of neurological impairment. They can be a special impediment in activities such as reading and writing directional scripts, where mirror-image patterns (such as b and d) must be distinguished. Treating mirror images as equivalent, though, can also be adaptive in the natural world, which carries no systematic left-right bias and where the same object or event can appear in opposite viewpoints. Mirror-image equivalence and confusion are natural consequences of a bilaterally symmetrical brain. In the course of learning, mirror-image equivalence may be established through a process of symmetrization, achieved through homotopic interhemispheric exchange in the formation of memory circuits. Such circuits would not distinguish between mirror images. Learning to discriminate mirror-image discriminations may depend either on existing brain asymmetries, or on extensive learning overriding the symmetrization process. The balance between mirror-image equivalence and mirror-image discrimination may nevertheless be precarious, with spontaneous confusions or reversals, such as mirror writing, sometimes appearing naturally or as a manifestation of conditions like dyslexia.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00140/fullbilateral symmetrycerebral asymmetrycommissuresdyslexiainferotemporal cortexinterhemispheric mirror-image reversal |
| spellingShingle | Michael C. Corballis Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal Frontiers in Human Neuroscience bilateral symmetry cerebral asymmetry commissures dyslexia inferotemporal cortex interhemispheric mirror-image reversal |
| title | Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal |
| title_full | Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal |
| title_fullStr | Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal |
| title_short | Mirror-Image Equivalence and Interhemispheric Mirror-Image Reversal |
| title_sort | mirror image equivalence and interhemispheric mirror image reversal |
| topic | bilateral symmetry cerebral asymmetry commissures dyslexia inferotemporal cortex interhemispheric mirror-image reversal |
| url | http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnhum.2018.00140/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT michaelccorballis mirrorimageequivalenceandinterhemisphericmirrorimagereversal |