title: Sulcal morphology and volume of Broca's area linked to handedness and sex.
abstract: We investigated the effect of handedness and sex on: (i) sulcal contours defining PO and PTR and (ii) volume estimates of PO and PTR subfields in 40 left- and 42 right-handers. Results show an effect of handedness on discontinuity of the inferior frontal sulcus (IFS: P<0.01). Discontinuity of IFS was observed in: 43% left- and 62% right hemispheres in right-handers and in 65% left- and 48% right-hemispheres in left-handers. PO volume asymmetry was rightward in left-handed males (P=0.007) and females (P=0.02), showed a leftward trend in right-handed males (P=0.06), and was non-asymmetrical in right-handed females (P=0.96, i.e. left- and right-hemisphere PO volumes did not differ significantly). PO volume asymmetry in males differed significantly between handedness groups (P=0.001). Findings indicate a high degree of variability in the sulcal contours of PO and PTR and volume asymmetry of PO: the factors sex and handedness can explain some of this variability.
authors.affiliation: Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Centre (MARIARC), University of Liverpool, UK. joanne.powell@liverpool.ac.uk
authors.forename: Joanne L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García-Finaña
mesh_terms: D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055815:Young Adult