Mens inversus in corpore inverso? Language lateralization in a boy with situs inversus totalis

- We describe functional + structural brain lateralization in a boy with situs inversus.
- We provide a comparison to an age- and gender-matched control.
- Functional + structural brain lateralization do not coincide with visceral organ situs.
- Cognitive development in this case of situs inversus is normal.

Situs inversus totalis is a rare condition where the visceral organs are organized as a mirror image of default organ position. In this study we picture the co-development between brain and visceral organs in a case of situs inversus totalis from a fetal stage to adolescence and compare our findings to an age-, gender-, and education-matched control with normal position of thoracic and abdominal organs. We show that in this case of situs inversus, functional and structural brain lateralization do not coincide with visceral organ situs. Furthermore, cognitive development in situs inversus is normal. To our knowledge, this is the first report of antenatal cerebral origins of structural and functional brain asymmetry in a case of situs inversus totalis.