title: The origin of left hand preference: pathological and non-pathological influences.
abstract: Models of the origin of left hand preference were tested with prospective data. Infants with and without a history of perinatal complications, matched for age, sex and parental handedness, were filmed at 6 weeks of age. Children with a history of perinatal complications lacked the rightward headturning bias of those children without a history of perinatal trauma. Children with a history of perinatal complications were also deviant with reference to the duration of a postural reflex and its degree of lateralization. Perinatal complications may delay the establishment of volitional hand use as well as increase the probability of left-handedness. The data were interpreted as supporting SATZ's (Cortex 8, 121-135, 1972) rather than BAKAN et al.'s (Neuropsychologia 11, 363-366, 1973) model of "pathological" left-handedness.
mesh_terms: D001720:Birth Injuries / Q000523:psychology; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000523:psychology*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000523:psychology; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000523:psychology; D011187:Posture; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000523:psychology