Sex- and diagnosis-related differences in nostril dominance may be associated with hemisphere dysfunction in affective disorders

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the differences in nostril dominance in affective disordered patients in comparison with healthy subjects. Materials and methods: A total of 26 male and 18 female bipolar I disordered inpatients, 11 male and 15 female unipolar depressed inpatients, and 30 male and 34 female healthy control subjects were evaluated. Nostril dominance was assessed by measuring nostril airflow. Nostril airflow was measured 24 times, at 30-min intervals from 08.00 hours to 20.00 hours. Results: Unipolar depressed patients had significantly more left nostril dominance; bipolar I disordered patients had significantly moreright nostril dominance. Both right nostril dominance in bipolar patients and left nostril dominance in unipolar patients were related to female sex. Conclusion: These results suggest that unipolar depression might be associated with left hemisphere dysfunction or hypofunction in females, in terms of the nasal cycle. However, bipolar I disorder might be associated with right hemisphere dysfunction or hypofunction in females, in terms of the nasal cycle. © TÜBITAK.