Temperature asymmetry and behavior

Asymmetries in the surface temperature of the fingertips of the right and l eft hands were gathered on four independent samples of children ranging in age from 4 to 8 gears (N = 398) while watching film clips in order to deter mine if the direction or magnitude of asymmetry was related to behavioral s igns of fear or inhibition. The left index finger was cooler than the right index finger for all four groups. The right ring finger was cooler than th e left ring finger for two of the four groups, and of similar temperature f or the other two groups. There was no relation between direction of asymmet ry and behavior and only a modest relation between a large temperature asym metry between the index fingers and behavioral signs of very high fear or i nhibition. There tr ns no relation between asymmetry and fear or inhibition across all children, suggesting the utility of examining extreme scores. ( C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.