title: Williams syndrome as a model of genetically determined right-hemisphere dominance.
abstract: Studies were carried out on the dermatoglyphics (skin ridge marks) on the hands of children with Williams syndrome; this is an inherited disease with cardiovascular pathology and a characteristic facial phenotype ("elf" facies), along with specific mental and cognitive disturbances. The results suggest a characteristic dermatoglyphic type with the presence of complex whorls on the fingers and a clear predominance of marks of greater complexity on the left hand; this is a very rare trait in normal people and in those with other inherited nervous system disorders. The features of the dermatoglyphic pattern serve as a characteristic marker of a genetically determined state of the human central nervous system, and suggests directions for neurophysiological studies of children with Williams syndrome as a unique model for analysis of higher nervous function in humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.
authors.forename: N N
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Bogdanov
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Solonichenko
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003878:Dermatoglyphics; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018980:Williams Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*