Role of Corpus Callosum in Transfer of Tactuokinesthetic Learning in Chimpanzee

Abstract

The corpus callosum in its splenial segment sustains the interhemispheric transmission of information bearing upon the significance or meaning of visual experiences of more complex sorts.^9,12 At the same time evidence exists that other parts of the corpus callosum serve a similar role in the sphere of audition.¹⁴ Does the great cortical commissure additionally support cognitive association in the realm of touch and kinesthetic stimulation? There already exists indication that the touch learning mechanisms of the two body halves maintain close relations through the corpus callosum. Bykov,⁵ as early as 1924, demonstrated that surgical interruption of the corpus callosum prevented generalization to one half of the body of tactile conditioned reflexes acquired through the other half of the body. Further, commissural interruption allowed contrary conditioned reflexes to be established for the first time to touch stimulation of homologous skin loci. The work of Stamm and Sperry also