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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Gareth RichardsORCiD
Handedness is a salient characteristic of Homo sapiens, with ~90% of individuals preferring the right hand. Direction of hand preference (right or left) is ~25% heritable, although relatively little is known regarding strength of handedness (i.e., strong, or weak lateralisation, regardless of direction). Furthermore, most research has focussed on hand preference (which hand is preferred), rather than relative hand skill (the difference in task performance between the right and left hands). We, therefore, examined strength of hand preference (self-report or behavioural observation via the Crovitz-Zener Handedness Inventory [CZHI]) and relative hand skill (Purdue Pegboard [PPB] task) among twins participating in the Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart (MISTRA). CZHI data were available for 80 MZA pairs and 54 DZA pairs; relative hand skill could be calculated from PPB data for 74 MZA pairs and 45 DZA pairs. Although there was evidence of heritability for right- (MZA [n=76 pairs] ICC = 0.332, p = 0.002; DZA [n = 47 pairs] ICC = 0.053, p = 0.362) and left-hand speed (MZA [n = 76 pairs] ICC = 0.318, p = 0.002; DZA [n = 47 pairs] ICC = 0.150, p = 0.157) on the PPB, we unexpectedly found absolute (unsigned) CZHI scores more alike than chance in DZA twin pairs (ICC = 0.333, p = 0.007), but not MZA twin pairs (ICC = 0.019, p = 0.433). There was no evidence of heritability for strength of relative hand skill (MZA ICC = 0.043, p = 0.357; DZA ICC = -0.143, p = 0.842). Future molecular genetic studies should consider strength, in addition to direction of hand preference, as well as relative hand skill.
Author(s): Richards G, Segal N
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: Behavior Genetics Association 52st Annual Meeting
Year of Conference: 2022
Pages: 388-388
Print publication date: 01/11/2022
Online publication date: 21/10/2022
Acceptance date: 20/07/2022
Date deposited: 31/07/2022
ISSN: 0001-8244
Publisher: Springer
URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10519-022-10119-6
DOI: 10.1007/s10519-022-10119-6
ePrints DOI: 10.57711/n8a1-bk24
Series Title: Behavior Genetics
