Decussation of neural pathways in vertebrates: a scoping review of explanatory theories

This project consists of a scoping review aimed at mapping and analyzing the main theoretical models that explain the decussation of neural pathways and the contralateral organization of the central nervous system in vertebrates. Although this organizational pattern is one of the pillars of neuroscience, its evolutionary origins and functional significance remain under debate. The review will follow the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and the Joanna Briggs Institute recommendations, using the PCC strategy (Population: vertebrates; Concept: neural pathway decussation; Context: explanatory theoretical models). Reviews and theoretical studies published in English will be included, with no temporal restrictions, and searches will be conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The study is expected to historically organize the proposed theories, identify convergences and explanatory gaps, and contribute to a more integrated understanding of contralateral organization in the vertebrate nervous system.