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Strength of forelimb lateralization predicts motor errors in an insect

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posted on 2023-06-09, 03:01 authored by Adrian Bell, Jeremy NivenJeremy Niven
Lateralized behaviours are widespread in both vertebrates and invertebrates, suggesting that lateralization is advantageous. Yet evidence demonstrating proximate or ultimate advantages remains scarce, particularly in invertebrates or in species with individual-level lateralization. Desert locusts (Schistocerca gregaria) are biased in the forelimb they use to perform targeted reaching across a gap. The forelimb and strength of this bias differed among individuals, indicative of individual-level lateralization. Here we show that strongly biased locusts perform better during gap-crossing, making fewer errors with their preferred forelimb. The number of targeting errors locusts make negatively correlates with the strength of forelimb lateralization. This provides evidence that stronger lateralization confers an advantage in terms of improved motor control in an invertebrate with individual-level lateralization.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Biology Letters

ISSN

1744-9561

Publisher

Royal Society, The

Issue

9

Volume

12

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2016-09-22

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2016-09-22

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2016-09-21

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