HANDEDNESS IN WOMEN WITH INTRAUTERINE EXPOSURE TO DIETHYLSTILBESTROL

Completed Forms containing the Edinburgh handedness inventory were rec eived from 77 women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero. Late rality scores (LSs; range: - 100 to + 100) were calculated for each re spondent based on the handedness inventory and were compared with LSs from 514 female controls. The handedness distribution in the DES daugh ters was significantly shifted away from strong righthandedness compar ed with the handedness distribution in the controls (chi-square = 22.0 , P<0.0001). Possible explanations For the association between handedn ess and DES exposure are presented, and aspects of handedness measurem ent are discussed.