Résumé
Au regard de leur proximité phylogénétique avec l’Homme actuel, les primates non-humains sont considérés comme des modèles privilégiés pour rechercher les précurseurs de certaines caractéristiques humaines qui auraient pu exister chez nos ancêtres communs. Dans cet article, je vais essayer de montrer l’intérêt de travailler, non pas sur un « modèle » primate en particulier, mais sur une approche comparative la plus large possible incluant plusieurs espèces de primates. Je prendrai l’exemple des recherches sur les préférences manuelles des primates non-humains, en particulier celles associées à des tâches bimanuelles ou des gestes communicatifs. Je discuterai plus précisément de leurs implications sur la question des origines de la spécialisation hémisphérique cérébrale des fonctions du langage et de la prédominance des droitiers chez l’Homme. Je tenterai de montrer ainsi en quoi seule une large approche comparative entre espèces a pu nous aider à mettre en évidence certains facteurs impliqués dans l’évolution de la latéralisation manuelle et cérébrale chez les primates.
Abstract
Nonhuman primates are phylogenetically very close to modern Humans, and are therefore considered as relevant models to investigate the precursors of certain human traits in our common ancestors. In this paper, I will try to show the considerable value of working not with a single given primate “model”, but through the broadest possible comparative approach between animal species, and particularly nonhuman primates. I will illustrate this by discussing studies on handedness in nonhuman primates, and particularly the right or left-hand preferences associated with coordinated bimanual tasks and gestural communication. More specifically, I will then discuss the theoretical implications for the origins of brain hemispheric specialization for language and the predominance of right-handedness in Humans. I will then attemp to demonstrate why only a broad comparative approach between primate species can help to understand certain potentially critical factors that have been involved in the evolution of manual and cerebral lateralization among primates.
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Meguerditchian, A. Pour une large approche comparative entre primates dans les recherches sur les origines de l’Homme : l’exemple de la latéralité manuelle. BMSAP 26, 166–171 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13219-014-0114-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13219-014-0114-1
Mots clés
- Latéralité manuelle
- Spécialisation hémisphérique cérébrale
- Coordination bimanuelle
- Communication gestuelle
- Primatologie
- Evolution