Looking at Both Sides: Integrating Data From Both Hemispheres Is Crucial in Rodent Neuroscience

ABSTRACT Despite the overwhelming prevalence of rodent‐based research in neuroscience, with over 8700 studies published until March 2025 in the European Journal of Neuroscience alone (based on a targeted PubMed search using rodent‐related keywords), one striking reality stands out: only a handful—24 studies—have explicitly addressed hemispheric asymmetries (using the same search with asymmetry‐related terms). While this number is not exhaustive, it serves to exemplify the relatively limited focus on hemispheric lateralization in rodent studies. This notable gap in the literature highlights a pervasive underappreciation for the role of brain lateralization in rodents, a critical area of investigation that has been widely studied in human neuroscience but remains largely unexplored in animal models. In light of this, it becomes clear that a fundamental shift in research priorities is needed to unlock the full potential of rodent models in understanding brain organization and its implications for neurological and psychiatric disorders.