Related Experiment Videos
Handedness in autistic children
Journal of Autism and Childhood Schizophrenia
|March 1, 1977
Summary
Autistic children show significantly higher rates of non-right-handedness compared to typically developing children. This finding suggests a potential link between atypical handedness and the underlying causes of autism spectrum disorder.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Developmental Psychology
- Human Genetics
Background:
- Handedness is typically lateralized to the right hemisphere in most individuals.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social and communication deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in handedness patterns between autistic children and typically developing children.
- To explore the potential implications of handedness variations for understanding the etiology of autism.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study assessing handedness in a sample of 20 autistic children and 25 control children.
- Analysis of the frequency of non-right-handedness (left-handedness and ambidexterity) in both groups.
Main Results:
- A significantly higher prevalence of non-right-handedness was observed in autistic children (65%) compared to normal children (12%).
- This marked difference highlights a strong association between atypical handedness and autism spectrum disorder.
Conclusions:
- Atypical handedness is a common characteristic in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
- The observed differences in handedness may offer insights into the neurobiological underpinnings and developmental pathways of autism.