MARKERS OF CEREBRAL LATERALIZATION AND ALCOHOLISM

We assessed markers of anomalous cerebral dominance in 70 problem drin kers at risk for alcoholism, 43 alcoholics who had been sober for at l east six months, and 311 healthy control subjects age-matched to the p roblem drinkers. Markers of anomalous cerebral dominance included left -handedness, learning disabilities, neuro-immune disorders, and specia l cognitive talents. We also administered a ''drinking inventory'' to assess frequency and severity of drinking patterns for self and family . Analysis showed elevated rates of left-handedness and learning disab ilities in the alcoholic group and in the ''at risk'' problem drinkers . These same subjects rated themselves and their families as relativel y poor at left-hemisphere-mediated cognitive talents. Alcoholic women evidenced significantly greater incidence of immune disorders than alc oholic men. Alcoholism appears to be related to biological factors whi ch have been associated with anomalous cerebral dominance.