Predicting combinations of left and right asymmetries.

This paper explains how combinations of asymmetries for pairs of laterality variables may be predicted. It shows that many pairs combine as expected by chance, plus the influence of the RS+ gene hypothesised by Annett (1978, 1985). These include: eye dominance with writing hand, with throwing hand, and with foot for kicking; nonright handedness with planum temporale asymmetry, with asymmetry of the parietal operculum, and the association between these two anatomical asymmetries. Handedness for writing and throwing, and hand and foot preferences are more strongly associated, suggesting the presence of an additional influence. The reliability of the present analyses was supported by replication, especially in findings for hand preferences for writing and throwing described by Gilbert and Wysocki (1992). The relative frequencies of discordant patterns of preference, LR (writing, throwing) versus RL, are a function of the frequencies of the two variables in the population. These differ between age groups and also with the classification of 'either' hand preferences. Patterns of preference for writing, throwing and eye-dominance (RRR, RRL etc) are related in an orderly manner to differences between the hands for peg moving time. The success of the present application of the RS theory strengthens the argument that individual differences for hand preference depend on a continuous distribution of asymmetry, not on the 'types' commonly assumed in the literature.