Srpski arhiv za celokupno lekarstvo 2013 Volume 141, Issue 5-6, Pages: 354-358
https://doi.org/10.2298/SARH1306354D
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Etiological aspect of left-handedness in adolescents
Dragović Milan (Clinical Research Centre, North Metropolitan Area Health Service - Mental Health, Graylands Hospital, Mount Claremont, Perth, Australia + Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, The University of W)
Milenković Sanja (Medicinski fakultet, Institut za higijenu i medicinsku ekologiju, Beograd)
Kocijančić Dušica (Klinički centar Srbije, Klinika za ginekologiju i akušerstvo, Beograd)
Šram Zlatko (Institut za migracije i narodnosti, Zagreb, Hrvatska)
Introduction. Lateralization of brain functions such as language and manual
dominance (hand preferences and fine motor control) are most likely under
genetic control. However, this does not preclude the effect of various
environmental factors on functional brain lateralization. A strong
association of non-right-handedness (left- and mixed-handedness) with various
neurodevelopmental conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, autism, Rett syndrome)
implies that in some cases, non-right-handedness may be acquired rather than
inherited (i.e., pathologically determined). Objective. The aim of the study
was: (a) re-investigation of several known risk factors for left-handedness
(age of mother and/or father, twin pregnancies, and birth order), and (b)
examination of hitherto uninvestigated factors (type of birth, Apgar score,
maternal smoking during pregnancy). Methods. Putative, causative
environmental agents for this shift in manual distributions are explored in a
sample of 1031 high school students (404 males and 627 females) from
Belgrade. Both pre-existing (age of parents, twin pregnancy, and birth order)
and new (Apgar score, maternal smoking, type of birth) putative agents are
examined. Results. We found that maternal smoking and low Apgar score (2-6)
can significantly increase risk for left-handedness (p=0.046 and p=0.042,
respectively). The remaining factors showed no significant association with
left-handedness in adolescents. Conclusion. Our study clearly demonstrates
that left-handedness may be related to maternal smoking during pregnancy and
a low Apgar score on birth.
Keywords: left-handedness, adolescents, risk factors, Apgar score, maternal smoking during pregnancy