The cerebral dominances: quantitative morphology of the human cerebral cortex

The aim of the present investigation was to detect differences between the left and right hemispheres at a macroscopical level using morphometric procedures. The volume fraction and the surface area of the different brain structures have been calculated from the profile area by stereological procedures. The volume, the relative volume fraction, the folded surface area as well as the mean cortical thickness were evaluated by stereology. Although some constant differences in the arrangement of sulci and their depth can be observed at a descriptive level, the quantitative morphological comparison between both hemispheres however only showed slight differences. The results are discussed with regard to the differences published up to the present. The morphometric methods will be discussed in detail.