title: [Is there a pathological basis for lefthandedness?].
abstract: The determination of laterality or handedness in men is a multifactorial one. There is a strong evidence for a genetic component in handedness, but there is only some evidence for other components. The present review discusses the role of the pathological factors, especially birth stress, birth order, maternal age or laterality in clinical populations. There is a general agreement that sinistrality can occur as a result of pre- or perinatal damage to the left hemisphere. The review indicates that there is no sure evidence to suggest that birth stress or birth order are related to increases in non-rightsidedness. A disproportionate number of sinistrals is found in clinical populations. The present review discusses some possible hypothesis explaining the distribution of sinistrality.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde des Universitätsklinikums Carl Gustav Carus, Technischen Universität Dresden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reiss
mesh_terms: D001722:Birth Order; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008423:Maternal Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D012621:Seasons; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000150:complications