Limb Preference Research Articles

Smartphone Proprioception for Ankle Navigation (SPAN): Reliability and Effect of Position Exposure Time

This study investigated ankle discriminative acuity and performance and measurement consistency for tests undertaken with different joint position exposure times (PETs). Twenty-four participants were tested using a novel Smartphone Proprioception for Ankle Navigation (SPAN) under four PETs, i.e., 0.25s, 0.5s, 0.75s and 1s, delivered in a random sequence, and then re-tested within one week. The results indicated a PET main effect (F = 10.12, p = 0.004, partial ƞ2 = 0.14), and limb preference main effect (F = 5.39, p = 0.03, partial ƞ2 = 0.19), without significant interactions (p > 0.05). Ankle proprioception improved with prolonged PET, with the non-dominant side outperforming the dominant side. A PET of 0.25s showed good to excellent reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of 0.897 (95%CI: 0.761, 0.955) and 0.885 (95%CI: 0.736, 0.951), with standard errors of measurements (SEM) between 0.030 and 0.035, and minimum detectable change at 90% (MDC90) between 0.070 and 0.082, compared to poor to moderate reliability at the other three longer PETs (ICCs =0.352–0.736). The findings suggested the prolongation of PET can improve ankle proprioceptive performance but can amplify the inter-occasion variability, likely due to increased cognitive analysis with longer stimulus sampling. SPAN may thus be a cost-effective and accessible apparatus for clinical practice.

Lateralised Behavioural Responses in Livestock to Environmental Stressors: Implications for Using Infrared Thermography to Assess Welfare Conditions

Lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors have become more frequently used as indicators of social welfare in animals. These lateralised behavioural responses are under the control of asymmetrical brain functions as part of the primary functions of most vertebrates and assist in primary social and survival functions. Lateralised behavioural responses originating from the left hemisphere are responsible for processing familiar conditions, while the right hemisphere is responsible for responding to novel stimuli in the environment. The forced lateralisation and side preference tests have been used to determine the visual lateralised behavioural responses in livestock to environmental stressors. Limb preference during movement has also been used to determine motor lateralisation. Although behavioural investigations in livestock have recorded lateralised behavioural responses to environmental stressors, there are still limitations in the implication of lateralisation to other conditions, such as restraint and invasive procedures. Thus, it is important to have a non-invasive measure for these lateralised behavioural responses. Recently, lateralised behavioural responses have been correlated with the use of infrared temperature of external body surfaces, such as the eyes and coronary bands of limbs. This review summarised the different forms of the lateralised behavioural responses in livestock, especially cattle and horses, to environmental stressors, and the association between these responses and the relevant external body surfaces’ infrared temperature, with the purpose of improving the use of non-invasive measures in assessing welfare conditions in animals. The combination of the lateralised behavioural responses and infrared temperature of external body surfaces to environmental stressors could improve the assessment strategies of welfare conditions and the related additional husbandry interventions that could be applied to improve the welfare of farm animals.

Knowledge of lateralized brain function can contribute to animal welfare.

The specialized functions of each hemisphere of the vertebrate brain are summarized together with the current evidence of lateralized behavior in farm and companion animals, as shown by the eye or ear used to attend and respond to stimuli. Forelimb preference is another manifestation of hemispheric lateralization, as shown by differences in behavior between left- and right-handed primates, left- and right-pawed dogs and cats, and left- and right-limb-preferring horses. Left-limb preference reflects right hemisphere use and is associated with negative cognitive bias. Positive cognitive bias is associated with right-limb and left-hemisphere preferences. The strength of lateralization is also associated with behavior. Animals with weak lateralization of the brain are unable to attend to more than one task at a time, and they are more easily stressed than animals with strong lateralization. This difference is also found in domesticated species with strong vs. weak limb preferences. Individuals with left-limb or ambilateral preference have a bias to express functions of the right hemisphere, heightened fear and aggression, and greater susceptibility to stress. Recognition of lateralized behavior can lead to improved welfare by detecting those animals most likely to suffer fear and distress and by indicating housing conditions and handling procedures that cause stress.

Hemispheric asymmetries and brain size in mammals

Hemispheric asymmetries differ considerably across species, but the neurophysiological base of this variation is unclear. It has been suggested that hemispheric asymmetries evolved to bypass interhemispheric conduction delay when performing time-critical tasks. This implies that large brains should be more asymmetric. We performed preregistered cross-species meta-regressions with brain mass and neuron number as predictors for limb preferences, a behavioral marker of hemispheric asymmetries, in mammals. Brain mass and neuron number showed positive associations with rightward limb preferences but negative associations with leftward limb preferences. No significant associations were found for ambilaterality. These results are only partly in line with the idea that conduction delay is the critical factor that drives the evolution of hemispheric asymmetries. They suggest that larger-brained species tend to shift towards more right-lateralized individuals. Therefore, the need for coordination of lateralized responses in social species needs to be considered in the context of the evolution of hemispheric asymmetries.

May Infographic

Movement DisordersVolume 38, Issue 5 InfographicFree Access May Infographic First published: 11 June 2023 https://doi.org/10.1002/mds.29094About ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Graphical Abstract May Infographic: Limb Preference Changes after Focused-Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor Volume38, Issue5May 2023 RelatedInformation

Limb Preference Changes after Focused-Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor.

Magnetic resonance-guided focused-ultrasound (MRgFUS) thalamotomy is an effective treatment for essential and other tremors. It targets the ventrointermedius (Vim) nucleus, which is the thalamic relay in a proprioceptive pathway, and contains kinesthetic cells. Although MRgFUS thalamotomy reduces some risks associated with more invasive surgeries, it still has side effects, such as balance and gait disturbances; these may be caused by the lesion impacting proprioception. Our aim was to quantitatively measure the effects of MRgFUS on proprioception and limb use in essential tremor patients. We hypothesized that this thalamotomy alters proprioception, because the sensorimotor Vim thalamus is lesioned. Proprioception was measured using the Kinarm exoskeleton robot in 18 patients. Data were collected pre-operatively, and then 1 day, 3 months, and 1 year after surgery. Patients completed four tasks, assessing motor coordination and postural control, goal-directed movement and bimanual planning, position sense, and kinesthesia. Immediately after surgery there were changes in posture speed (indicating tremor improvement), and in bimanual hand use, with the untreated limb being preferred. However, these measures returned to pre-operative baseline over time. There were no changes in parameters related to proprioception. None of these measures correlated with lesion size or lesion-overlap with the dentato-rubro-thalamic tract. This is the first quantitative assessment of proprioception and limb preference following MRgFUS thalamotomy. Our results suggest that focused-ultrasound lesioning of the Vim thalamus does not degrade proprioception but alters limb preference. This change may indicate a required "relearning" in the treated limb, because the effect is transient. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Limb Preference and Limb Bone Mineral Density: an Overview of Empirical Findings

Limb Preference and Limb Bone Mineral Density: an Overview of Empirical Findings

Consistency of limb preference across unimanual feeding, bipedal locomotion, and social grooming in golden snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana)

ABSTRACT The golden snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) is a typical arboreal group-living Old World primate. While limb preference has been extensively studied in this species, limb preference consistency has not yet been explored. Here, based on 26 R. roxellana adults, we investigated whether individuals exhibit consistent motor biases in manual- (e.g., unimanual feeding and social grooming) and foot-related (e.g., bipedal locomotion) tasks and whether limb preference consistency is influenced by increased social interactions during social grooming. Results showed no consistency in the direction or strength of limb preference among tasks, except for lateral strength in handedness for unimanual feeding and footedness in the initiation of locomotion. Population-level foot preference was only found among right-handers. Marked lateral bias was found in unimanual feeding, indicating that it may be a sensitive behavioural measure for assessing manual preference, especially for provisioned populations. This study not only improves our understanding of the relationship between hand and foot preference in R. roxellana but also reveals potential differential hemispheric regulation of limb preference and the influence of increased social interaction on handedness consistency.

Penalty feet positioning rule modification and laterality effect on soccer goalkeepers’ diving kinematics

In 2019, a new rule was applied in soccer. It allows the goalkeeper to have only one foot or part of it on the goal line when the kicker hits the ball, unlike the previous rule that determined the goalkeeper should have both feet on the line. The purpose of the present study was to analyze how the change in the rule and the lower limbs laterality influences on the diving save kinematic performance in penalties. Six goalkeepers, two professionals and four amateurs, performed a total of 20 dives in the laboratory and had their force and impulse exerted by the lower limb and displacement/velocity data from the center of body mass collected through force plates and kinematic analysis. The side preference was collected through an inventory. The results showed that goalkeepers dive further (p < 0.001) and faster (p < 0.001) when diving according to the new rule. Dives for the non-dominant side presented higher values than the trials for the dominant side in mediolateral (p = 0.02) and resultant (p = 0.03) displacements. Concluding, the goalkeepers performed better with the new rule in the analyzed variables and the lower limb preference has influenced only the mediolateral and resultant displacement.

Inter-limb asymmetries and kicking limb preference in English premier league soccer players.

The aims of this study were: (1) to quantify interlimb asymmetries in EPL soccer players in the context of kicking limb preference and (2) to establish the relationship between interlimb asymmetries and measures of physical performance. Twenty-two players (age: 21.8 ± 4.4 years) from an EPL club performed a running gait assessment (20 km/h) and unilateral countermovement jumps, a CoD assessment (modified 505 test), and an isokinetic knee extension/flexion protocol using each leg. Asymmetries were quantified using the percentage difference method and Pearson's correlations were used to quantify the association between variables. Players displayed the greatest level of asymmetry in isokinetic strength measures (5.9–12.7%) and lower levels of asymmetry in gait (1.6–7.7%), jump (0.9–7.0%) and CoD (1.9–3.5%) assessments. The influence of the preferred kicking limb was most evident in the isokinetic assessment with the players showing dominance in the preferred limb for knee flexor strength and in the non-preferred limb for knee extensor strength. These manifested in the asymmetry values calculated for the hamstring:quadricep (H:Q) ratios at 60°/s (8.80 ± 7.82%) and 240°/s (11.22 ± 7.04%) and in the functional H:Q ratio (12.67 ± 8.25%). The asymmetry values for peak extensor moment at 240°/s showed a significant correlation (ρ = −0.55, p = 0.034) with 10 m time in the CoD assessment. These findings provide benchmark asymmetry data for soccer practitioners and reveal that kicking limb preferences may bring about interlimb differences in the H:Q ratio which raises important considerations in the design of testing batteries and injury reduction interventions.

Food handling shapes the laterality of paw use in the Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani)

Limb preference, associated with behavioural laterality and hemispheric lateralization, has long received high attention from both ethologists and psychologists. Chinese red pandas in Shanghai Zoo perform natural unimanual actions in two different ways during food handling, making it an appropriate subject to investigate the effect of food handling on pawedness. In this study, we estimated the direction and the strength of pawedness in spontaneous feeding behaviours in zoo-housed Chinese red pandas. All the subjects exclusively used the preferred paw when handling fruit pieces throughout the observational period, with three of them preferred the left paw while the other two the right paw. By contrast, both paws were found to be used alternately in consuming bamboo. Our results indicate that different food manipulations have effects on pawedness in the Chinese red panda where more complex handling could probably enhance its pawedness.

Limb Preference and Skill Level Dependence During the Imagery of a Whole-Body Movement: A Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy Study.

In the past years motor imagery (MI) turned out to be also an innovative and effective tool for motor learning and improvement of sports performance. Whereas many studies investigating sports MI focusing on upper or lower limbs involvement, knowledge about involved neural structures during whole-body movements is still limited. In the present study we investigated brain activity of climbers during a kinesthetic motor imagery (KMI) climbing task with different difficulties by means of functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Twenty healthy participants were split into two groups according to their climbing skill level. The aim of the current study is investigating neural correlates of a whole-body sports MI task with an additional focus on skill level dependency. Climbing experts and non-experts imagined bouldering an “easy” and “difficult” route from a first-person perspective while hemodynamic responses were recorded simultaneously. We found significant differences between the two climbing routes, easy and difficult within participants as well as between the two groups of different climbing skill levels. Overall beginners showed increased hemodynamic responses compared to experts in all defined regions of interest (ROI) supporting the claim of the neural efficiency hypothesis (NEH). Even though climbing is a complex, coordinated movement of upper and lower limbs we found a stronger activation focus of the upper limbs, especially of the dominant hand-area, while the foot area seems to be deactivated or inhibited simultaneously. Summarizing, these findings provide novel insights into brain activation during the imagery of a whole-body movement and its relation to climbing expertise.

When left is right: The effects of paw preference training on behaviour in mice

Spontaneous limb preferences exist in numerous species. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of these preferences, different methods, such as training, have been developed to shift preferences artificially. However, studies that systematically examine the effects of shifting preferences on behaviour and physiology are largely missing. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the impact of shifting paw preferences via training on spontaneous home cage behaviour, as well as anxiety-like behaviour and exploratory locomotion (Elevated plus maze test, Dark light test, Open field test, Free exploration test), learning performance (Labyrinth-maze) and stress hormones (fecal corticosterone metabolites) in laboratory mice (Mus musculus f. domestica). For this, we assessed spontaneous paw preferences of C57BL/6J females (Nambilateral = 23, Nleft = 23, Nright = 25). Subsequently, half of the individuals from each category were trained once a week for four weeks in a food-reaching task to use either their left or right paw, respectively, resulting in six groups: AL, AR, LL, LR, RL, RR. After training, a battery of behavioural tests was performed and spontaneous preferences were assessed again. Our results indicate that most mice were successfully trained and the effect of training was present days after training. However, a significant difference of preferences between RL and LL mice during training suggests a rather low training success of RL mice. Additionally, preferences of L mice differed from those of A and R mice after training, indicating differential long-term effects of training in these groups. Furthermore, left paw training led to higher levels of self-grooming, possibly as a displacement behaviour, and more time spent in the light compartment of the Dark light test. However, overall, there was no systematic influence of training on behavioural measures and stress hormones. Different explanations for this lack of influence, such as the link between training and hemispheric functioning or the intensity and ecological relevance of the training, are discussed.

Is There an Association between Paw Preference and Emotionality in Pet Dogs?

Simple SummarySimilar to human handedness, many animals preferentially use one limb over the other to perform certain tasks. It has been argued this handedness/limb preference could be linked to individual differences in emotionality (i.e., the tendency to appraise the environment in certain ways emotionally). A better understanding of this under-explored link has the potential to establish limb preference as an indicator of emotional vulnerability and increased risk for affective disorders (e.g., anxiety disorder, depression). This study explored a potential relationship between paw preference and emotionality in pet dogs. To determine paw preference, we examined paw preferences to hold a food-stuffed Kong™ and to lift first when starting walking or when stepping over a hurdle. Dogs’ emotionality was assessed using a validated owner-based questionnaire examining their sensitivity to positive and negative situations. In contrast to previous research this study did not find any association between dogs’ paw use and their emotionality but suggested that paw use might be task-specific. More research is needed to identify which limb is actually the preferred one in a given task and to define both the consistency and nature of any bias before drawing conclusions about their relationship with emotional appraisal of the environment.Research with humans and other animals has suggested that preferential limb use is linked to emotionality. A better understanding of this still under-explored area has the potential to establish limb preference as a marker of emotional vulnerability and risk for affective disorders. This study explored the potential relationship between paw preference and emotionality in pet dogs. We examined which paw the dogs preferentially used to hold a Kong™ and to perform two different locomotion tests. Dogs’ emotionality was assessed using a validated psychometric test (the Positive and Negative Activation Scale—PANAS). Significant positive correlations were found for dogs’ paw use between the different locomotion tasks, suggesting that dogs may show a more general paw preference that is stable across different types of locomotion. In comparison, the correlations between the Kong™ Test and locomotion tests were only partially significant, likely due to potential limitations of the Kong™ Test and/or test-specific biomechanical requirements. No significant correlations were identified between paw preference tests and PANAS scores. These results are in contrast to previous reports of an association between dog paw preference and emotionality; animal limb preference might be task-specific and have variable task-consistency, which raises methodological questions about the use of paw preference as a marker for emotional functioning.

Limb Preference in Animals: New Insights into the Evolution of Manual Laterality in Hominids

Until the 1990s, the notion of brain lateralization—the division of labor between the two hemispheres—and its more visible behavioral manifestation, handedness, remained fiercely defined as a human specific trait. Since then, many studies have evidenced lateralized functions in a wide range of species, including both vertebrates and invertebrates. In this review, we highlight the great contribution of comparative research to the understanding of human handedness’ evolutionary and developmental pathways, by distinguishing animal forelimb asymmetries for functionally different actions—i.e., potentially depending on different hemispheric specializations. Firstly, lateralization for the manipulation of inanimate objects has been associated with genetic and ontogenetic factors, with specific brain regions’ activity, and with morphological limb specializations. These could have emerged under selective pressures notably related to the animal locomotion and social styles. Secondly, lateralization for actions directed to living targets (to self or conspecifics) seems to be in relationship with the brain lateralization for emotion processing. Thirdly, findings on primates’ hand preferences for communicative gestures accounts for a link between gestural laterality and a left-hemispheric specialization for intentional communication and language. Throughout this review, we highlight the value of functional neuroimaging and developmental approaches to shed light on the mechanisms underlying human handedness.

Characterization of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments in Lateral Stepping: Impact of Footwear and Lower Limb Preference.

Lateral stepping is a motor task that is widely used in everyday life to modify the base of support, change direction, and avoid obstacles. Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (APAs) are often analyzed to describe postural preparation prior to forward stepping, however, little is known about lateral stepping. The aim of the study is to characterize APAs preceding lateral steps and to investigate how these are affected by footwear and lower limb preference. Twenty-two healthy young participants performed a lateral step using both their preferred and non-preferred leg in both barefoot and shod conditions. APA spatiotemporal parameters (size, duration, and speed) along both the anteroposterior and mediolateral axes were obtained through force plate data. APAs preceding lateral stepping showed typical patterns both along the anteroposterior and mediolateral axis. RM-ANOVA highlighted a significant effect of footwear only on medio-lateral APAs amplitude (p = 0.008) and velocity (p = 0.037). No differences were found for the limb preference. APAs in lateral stepping presented consistent features in the sagittal component, regardless of limb/shoe factors. Interestingly, the study observed that footwear induced an increase in the medio-lateral APAs size and velocity, highlighting the importance of including this factor when studying lateral stepping.

The effects of leg preference and leg dominance on static and dynamic balance performance in highly-trained tennis players.

In this study, 90 (51 males, 39 females) tennis players performed single-leg quiet stance and single-leg landing tasks. For the static standing task, center-of pressure (CoP) velocities, amplitudes, frequency and area were calculated. For the landing tasks, time to stabilization as well as dynamic postural stability index were considered. The analysis of differences between the legs was done based on two methods for a priori determination of leg preference, one based on the preference of kicking a ball and one based on the preference for single-leg jumping. An additional analysis was done based on the leg dominance (determined post hoc), based on the observed performance of the tasks. In case of the classification based on kicking a ball, there was a statistically significantly lower CoP anterior-posterior velocity and anterior-posterior amplitude in static balance task (p ≤ 0.017; 0.17 ≤ d ≤ 0.28) for the preferred leg. The CoP frequency was higher in the preferred leg for both directions (p ≤ 0.002; 0.10 ≤ d ≤ 0.22). For the landing task, CoP medial-lateral time to stabilization was statistically significantly shorter for the preferred leg (0.28 ± 0.38 s) compared to the non-preferred leg (0.47 ± 0.60 s) (p = 0.012; d = 0.38). There were no differences between the legs for the landing task. Moreover, there were no differences between the legs when we used the preference based on jumping for either of the tasks (d ≤ 0.14). The differences between legs in terms of observed dominance were larger than the differences based on the preference, which stresses the need for clear distinction of limb preference and limb dominance in research and practice. Regarding the effect of leg preference, small differences in static balance may exist between the legs (when the preference is based on kicking a ball).

Preferred Limb Reaction, Swing and Recovery Step Times between Subjects with and without Chronic Low Back Pain

A compensatory stepping strategy following repeated perturbations may compromise dynamic balance and postural stability. However, there is a lack of study on preferred limb reaction, swing, and step time adjustments. The purpose of this study was to investigate limb reaction, swing, and recovery step times following repeated trip perturbations in individuals with and without non-specific chronic low back pain (LBP). There were 30 subjects with LBP and 50 control subjects who participated in the study. The limb reaction, swing, and recovery step times (s) were measured following treadmill-induced random repeated perturbations (0.12 m/s velocity for 62.5 cm displacement), which caused subjects to move forward for 4.90 s. Both groups demonstrated a significant interaction of repetitions and times (F = 4.39, p = 0.03). Specifically, the recovery step time was significantly shorter in the LBP group during the first trip (t = 2.23, p = 0.03). There was a significant interaction on repetitions and times (F = 6.03, p = 0.02) in the LBP group, and the times were significantly different (F = 45.04, p = 0.001). The initial limb reaction time of the LBP group was significantly correlated with three repeated swing times to avoid falls. The novelty of the first trip tends to enhance a protective strategy implemented by the LBP group. Although limb preference did not demonstrate a significant difference between groups, the LBP group demonstrated shorter recovery step times on their preferred limb initially in order to implement an adaptive strategy to avoid fall injuries following repeated perturbations.

Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome as a rare congenital hemiatrophy: a case report

Introduction: Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome (DDMS) is a rare condition in childhood with very few cases reported in sub-Saharan Africa. Typically, the patient presents with facial asymmetry, seizures, and hemiparesis. Radiological findings include cerebral hemiatrophy, ipsilateral lateral ventricular dilatation, and hypertrophy of the calvarium and sinuses.&#x0D; Case presentation: We present the report of a 3-year-old male with weakness of right upper and lower limbs, facial asymmetry, and seizures. Physical examination showed a well-nourished child with a squint of the right eye. There were brisk tendon reflexes with right-sided hemiplegia which is spastic with left limb preference. Computer tomography of the brain showed atrophy of the left cerebral hemisphere, ipsilateral lateral ventricular dilatation, and thickening of the ipsilateral cranium. The diagnosis of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome was made. He was treated with sodium valproate and lamotrigine and presently physiotherapy and he had remained seizure-free.&#x0D; Conclusion: Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome still affects children despite being a rare condition. There is a need for appropriate clinical and radiological assessment for the diagnosis of DDMS. Early identification and appropriate treatment will improve the general outcome of children with DDMS.

Chinese red panda (Ailurus styani) has stable individual-level laterality of anogenital rubbing

Abstract Behavioural laterality was widely discovered in both vertebrates and invertebrates. However, reports of behavioural laterality in scent-marking are scarce and focused on limb preference during scent-marking. In this study, we observed another scent-marking behaviour, anogenital rubbing, which involved whole-body movement, in zoo-housed Chinese red pandas. We recorded the moving direction of the buttocks when initiating anogenital rubbing. Our results showed that three of our subjects were explicitly left-biased when initiating anogenital rubbing and the other one showed more left initiation although there was no statistical significance. Besides, the laterality was consistent across the whole observational period. This is the first report of laterality in anogenital rubbing, perhaps indicating hemispheric specialization for chemical communication in the Chinese red panda.