title: An epidemiological reconsideration of the Geschwind-Galaburda theory of cerebral lateralization.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Méthodes Statistiques et Epidémiologiques et Applications à l'Etude des Maladies Chroniques, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Villejuif, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dellatolas
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Annesi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jallon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chavance
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lellouch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D013342:Stuttering / Q000503:physiopathology*