Hand preference in humans is associated with testosterone levels and androgen receptor gene polymorphism

Abstract

Exposure of the central nervous system to androgens during the early developmental period has been proposed to play a role in the establishment of hand preference in males. Existing data, however, are inconclusive. In the present investigation, handedness was assessed in a large sample of left-, mixed-, and right-handed men (N=180) using a standardized handedness inventory. Saliva sampling was used to assay levels of bioavailable testosterone and DNA genotyping was carried out to quantify AR-CAG repeat length, a genetic marker of the capacity of the androgen receptor to respond to testosterone. Strongly left-handed males were found to have lower levels of bioavailable testosterone than right-handed males, while males with mixed handedness exhibited a weaker androgen receptor, but no significant difference from right-handers in circulating testosterone levels. These findings support the view that testosterone could play a role in the development of hand preference in males. Furthermore, because the AR gene lies on the X chromosome, it provides a potential theoretical bridge to genetic theories of handedness that postulate the existence of an X-linked locus important in the establishment of hand preference.