Sensory nerve conduction velocity is greater in left handed persons.

Dependence of nerve conduction velocity on factors like age, sex and temperature is well known. Effect of handedness on nerve conduction velocity has not been studied adequately. In this study correlation between handedness and motor as well as sensory conduction velocity of right as well as left median nerve was studied in 84 medical students in the age group between 17-21 years out of which 72 were right handed and 12 were left handed. In addition auditory and visual reaction times were also studied. Sensory conduction velocity in both right and left median nerve was significantly higher in left handers as compared with right handers whereas, the motor conduction velocity in right handers and left handers was not different. The auditory and visual reaction times were also not different in these groups. Because of greater sensory conduction velocity in left handers there is a requirement of different set of normal reference values for left handers in clinical diagnosis.