Sex differences in interhemispheric reorganization of speech.

Ninety-four epileptic patients who had undergone the carotid amytal test were evaluated in order to determine whether sex affects the pattern of hemispheric reorganization following cerebral injury. Our data suggest that the period during which hemispheric reorganization for speech can occur differs between the sexes. Females have a relatively short window, with reorganization most likely during the first year of life. The length of this window is more difficult to define for males but may extend until puberty. The period during which a shift to left-handedness can occur does not appear to be affected by gender. Here, both males and females seem to show a relatively short window.