Socio-economic status and handedness in two large cohorts of French adults.
Left-and right-handers have coexisted since the Palaeolithic age. Hand preference is heritable. Moreover, there is extensive evidence of an association between left-handedness and several fitness costs. In this context, the persistence of the polymorphism is interesting. Here, we explore the associations between socio-economic status and handedness, analysing data from two large cohorts of adult men and women. Such associations are relevant to an evolutionary approach, as the socio-economic and the reproductive value are related. Our results partly support the hypothesis that left-handers have a socio-economic status advantage, countervailing the health issues. Although the models explain a small proportion of the variance observed, the frequency of left-handedness is significantly higher: (1) among women of higher educational level; (2) among categories of higher income; and (3) among individuals who have a higher position in the company. The importance of these findings for the evolution of the polymorphism of handedness is discussed.
Faurie
Charlotte
C
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK. charlotte.faurie@univ-montp2.fr
Bonenfant
Sébastien
S
Goldberg
Marcel
M
Hercberg
Serge
S
Zins
Marie
M
Raymond
Michel
M
D000124:Achievement; D000328:Adult; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002322:Career Mobility; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000235:genetics; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors