The Geschwind–Behan–Galaburda Model (GBGM) of Cerebral Lateralization: A Critique and Prospective

Abstract

In the wake of, and as a complement to, a recently published major meta-analytic review of empirical support of the Geschwind–Behan–Galaburda model (GBGM) of cerebral lateralization (CL) the present brief essay attempts to present a critical assessment of the theoretical approach underlying the GBGM. The GBGM is criticized for having been misguided in its representation of the cerebral basis of handedness, and of the links between testosterone and immune function. Some guidelines are presented for the development of a general theory of CL, emphasizing animal research, greater interdisciplinary communication, a hierarchical model-building approach, and the relevance of neuropharmacology and psychiatry.