1303 CORRELATION BETWEEN PARIETAL HAIR WHORL LOCATION AND BRAIN DOMINANCE

Abstract

The parietal hair whorl represents the surface point under which maximum brain growth occurs between the 10th and 16th weeks of fetal life. Aberrations of the hair whorl's position have been observed in children with conditions such as primary microcephaly, in which there is abnormal growth of the brain during the early fetal period. In an attempt to determine whether parietal hair whorl position is a marker of brain dominance, we examined 50 staff members of the Pediatric Department of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. All subjects were neurologically normal and free from birth defects. 37 (74%) were right handed, 10 (20%) were left handed, and 3 (6%) considered themselves ambidextrous. Right handed individuals were significantly more likely to have their hair whorl to the left of the midliue than were non-right handed subjects (26 of 37 right handed people, or 70.3% vs. 2 of 13 non-right handed, or 15.4%, p < .001). Similarly, left handed subjects were significantly more likely to have a right-sided hair whorl than were non-left handed people (6 of 10 left handed subjects, or 60%, vs. 5 of 40 non-left handed, or 12.5%, p < .001). In conclusion, we have demonstrated a correlation between position of the parietal hair whorl and handedness suggesting that brain dominance is determined during the first 16 weeks of gestation, This finding may be helpful in predicting handedness in infants, and in the evaluation of children with developmental disabilities and craniofacial defects.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account

Continue with Google

Continue with ORCiD