An epidemiological reconsideration of the Geschwind-Galaburda theory of cerebral lateralization.
To contribute to the Geschwind-Galaburda theory of cerebral lateralization, we examined the relationship of left-handedness to allergic disorders and stuttering, using epidemiological data of two French samples, one of which (N = 9591) is representative of the French male population between 17 and 24 years of age. Results showed a higher frequency of stuttering but not of allergic disorders in left-handers. Extreme right-handedness was observed to be significantly associated with a lower frequency of allergic disorders; response bias might explain such a relationship. Findings were confirmed after allowing for potential confounding factors, such as age and education. In both samples, stuttering and allergic disorders were significantly related.
Dellatolas
G
G
Méthodes Statistiques et Epidémiologiques et Applications à l'Etude des Maladies Chroniques, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Villejuif, France.
Annesi
I
I
Jallon
P
P
Chavance
M
M
Lellouch
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D013342:Stuttering / Q000503:physiopathology*