Hand Preference in India

Abstract

The degree of asymmetric handedness was measured by a 22-item hand preference questionnaire in a sample of 442 Indian subjects. Factor analysis of the data for right-handers yielded four item-clusters: Gross activities, skilled activities (general), skilled activities (specific), and activities subject to social pressure. Identical analysis for left-handers yielded three item-clusters: Activities that are executed with difficulty, with ease, and with greater frequency.The degree of asymmetric handedness in right-handers was positively (high) correlated with an index of social pressure against left-hand use, especially for the items, writing and eating. The correlation was negative (moderate) in left-handers, however, who had preferred the right hand for eating purposes. Le degrt de lattralitt manuelle asymmttrique a ttC mesurC chez un tchantillon de 442 sujets Indiens h l'aide d'un questionnaire de prtfkrence manuelle comprenant 22 items. L'analyse factorielle des donntes pour les droitiers a livrt quatre regroupements d'items: les activitts globales, les activit6s sptcialisees (en general), les activitts sptcialistes (en particulier) et les activitts sujettes A la pression sociale. Une analyse identique effectute pour les gauchers a permis l'obtention de trois regroupements d'items: les activitts extcuttes avec difficulte, avec facilitt et en grand nombre. Le degrt de lattralitt manuelle asymmttrique chez les droitiers ktait en corrtlation positive (Clevte) avec un indicateur de pression sociale contre I'utilisation de la main gauche, plus sptcialement pour les items d'tcriture et de noumture. Une corrtlation negative (modCree) a Cte observee chez les gauchers qui, toutefois, avaient une prtftrence pour la main droite en ce qui a trait h la noumture.

Adjunctive high-frequency right prefrontal repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was not effective in obsessive–compulsive disorder but improved secondary depression

“…The Hindi version of Handedness Preference Schedule (Mandal, Pandey, Singh, & Asthana, 1992) which has 15 items was used to assess hand preference. The 10-item clinician administered Yale Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (YBOCS; Goodman et al, 1989), 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D; Hamilton, 1960) and 14-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A; Hamilton, 1959) were used to assess severity of obsessive-compulsive (OC), depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively.…”

Event related desynchronisation of mu-wave over right sensorimotor cortex at baseline may predict subsequent response to antipsychotics in Schizophrenia

“…Right-handedness was ensured in subjects by assessing them on Handedness Preference Schedule (Mandal et al, 1992). Subjects were excluded if they had a history another co-morbid psychiatric disorder, major neurological or medical illness; drug or alcohol dependence, except nicotine or caffeine use, and if they had received electroconvulsive therapy in past 6 months.…”

Somatoperceptual Asymmetry for Cognitive Stimuli: Support from Experimental and Clinical Observations

“…Th e selection of subjects was made on the basis of two measures: handedness and tactual sensitivity for index and middle fingers. Selected subjects were tested by a 22-item Hand Preference Questionnaire (Mandal, Pandey, Singh, & Asthana, 1992 ) and they were matched on the basis of direction (right) and magnitude (Laterality Quotient [Right ± Left/Right + -Left; Bryden, 1982]: +0.25 to +0.65) of handedness. Subjects did not differ in tactual sensitivity of the fingers (index and m iddle) of two hands as measured by an aesthesiom eter tw o-p oin t th resho ld (ri ght hand : m e an d iffere nce lim en = 3.17m m, left hand: mean difference lim en = 3.23m m; P > .05), determined by the m ethod of lim its (Guilford, 1954).…”