Pathological left-handedness. Left-handedness correlatives in adult epileptics

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Clinical Neurology
• Human Genetics

Background:

• Left-handedness prevalence is influenced by various factors.
• Understanding pathological left-handedness is crucial for neurological assessment.
• Epilepsy presents a unique population for studying handedness variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors associated with left-handedness in epileptic adults.
• To differentiate between normal and pathological left-handedness.
• To explore the relationship between familial sinistrality and pathological left-handedness.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a large adult sample (n=446) with epileptic seizures.
• Clinical examination to identify neurological deficits.
• Assessment of cognitive function and family history of left-handedness.

Main Results:

• Right-hemiparesis of early onset, cognitive deficit, and left-hemisphere disease were significantly associated with pathological left-handedness.
• Familial sinistrality showed an independent association with left-handedness.
• A clear distinction between normal and pathological left-handedness was supported.

Conclusions:

• Pathological left-handedness in epilepsy is linked to specific neurological and cognitive factors.
• The distinction between normal and pathological left-handedness is clinically relevant.
• Further research is needed to evaluate anomalies associated with left-handedness in neurological conditions.