Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1979, 48, 1008. @ Perceptual and Motor Skills 1979

AGE AND SEX AS FACTORS IN LATERAL RESPONSE TO SUGGESTION AND ITS RELATION TO HANDEDNESS J. J. FLEMINGER AND R. DALTON Guy's Hospital, London, England

W e recently reported ( 1 ) data for 100 subjects on a Suggestion Test. Of the 57 who responded laterally to the suggestion that they would experience a sensation (tingling in a hand), approximately equal numbers did so on right and left sides, but side of response was significantly associated with handedness. Further examination of our data provides the additional findings as shown in the table. ( a ) For both age groups, males and females gave similar results. ( b ) When sexes are combined, the association of side of response with handedness clearly holds only for subjects over 40 yr. ( p = 0.004, Fisher's exact test). ( c ) A preponderance of left-sided responders was found among both dextrals and non-dextrals aged under 40 yr.; but in subjects aged 40 yr. and over this was only found among non-dextrals ( p = 0.02, 1-tailed binomial test). Among dextrals over 40 yr. the response was predominantly right-sided. AGE,SEX, AND HANDEDNESS RELATEDTO Age Sex Response Handedness Dextral Non-dextral All

Male R L

0 2 4 6 4 8

LATERAL

RESPONSETO SUGGESTION

Under 40 yr. Female -

Both

3 3 5 8

3 5 914

7 0

8 11

12 19

7

R

L

R

L

Male R L 2

4 6

40 yr. and Over

Female

Both

R

L

R

L

8 0

3 2 5

15 0

6

8

5

15 11

It appears, therefore, chat with this technique ( i ) the sexes do not differ significantly as regards side of response to suggestion, ( i i ) the side of response is related to handedness only among older subjects, and (iii) a preponderance of left-sided responses is to be found among non-dextrals of all ages but only among younger dextrals. REFERENCE 1. FLEMINGER, J. J., DALTON, R., & HSU, G. Lateral response to suggestion in relation to handedness. Percep~ualand Motor Skillr, 1978, 46, 1344-1346.

Accepced May 22, 1979.

Age and sex as factors in lateral response to suggestion and its relation to handedness.

Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1979, 48, 1008. @ Perceptual and Motor Skills 1979 AGE AND SEX AS FACTORS IN LATERAL RESPONSE TO SUGGESTION AND ITS RELA...
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