Bi-sensory, striped representations: comparative insights from owl and platypus

Crossing of neuronal pathways: is it a response to the occurrence of separated parts for the body (limbs, eyes, etc.) during evolution?

Most sensory and motor pathways in the central nervous system cross the midline. Comparing between different neuronal pathways in different species suggest that, fibers crossing is most probably a response to the development of separated parts for the body during the process of evolution. This hypothesis proposes direct link between the occurrence of fibers crossing and the occurrence of separated parts of the body such as lateral eyes and limbs. It is supported by many observations that clearly indicate that different neuronal pathways in different species cross the midline when they carry separated information and run ipsilaterally when they carry shared information. Carrying separated information seems to create a need for functional coordination between the two halves of the nervous system which seems to be mediated by the fibers crossing. This hypothesis may alert scientists to study certain aspects of sensory and/or motor pathways in different species. It also enable the students to remember whether a pathway is uncrossed or crossed based on whether this pathway carry shared or separated information.