ALTERATIONS OF NEUROENDOCRINE BRAIN ASYMMETRY - A NEURAL RISK FACTOR AFFECTING PHYSICAL HEALTH

It was examined whether the specific pattern of brain asymmetry in cer ebral control of cortisol secretion existing in a specific individual is suitable to predict the individual's physical health status. Result s indicate that subjects with an altered, strong left hemisphere domin ance of cortisol regulation show a clearly higher amount of physical c omplaints than subjects with a normal, strong right hemisphere dominan ce. In addition, results suggest that the subjects' specific pattem of neuroendocrine brain asymmetry can be used with relatively good succe ss to separate individuals with high versus low degrees of physical co mplaints and thus, probably, to predict physical complaints of an indi vidual.