PTSD and Lateral Preference: Overview of the Relationship Between Distress Symptoms and Handedness

Abstract

The relationship between cerebral lateralization, reflected in lateral preference, and different psychiatric conditions has been indicated by various studies in the past. In regard to stress-related disorders, it was found that patients with PTSD exhibit lower degrees of lateral preference, as reflected by handedness, relative to healthy controls. Consistent associations between lateral preference and PTSD symptoms, found among combat veterans, indicates a reverse relationship between individual degrees of handedness and the severity of symptoms. This intriguing pattern in the relationships between PTSD and lateral preference isviewed through two major perspectives. One perspective suggests that mixedlateral preference occurs before the traumatic exposure and therefore might represent vulnerability for PTSD. The second perspective implies that exposure to traumatic events and re-experiencing of traumatic memories might have an effect on cerebral lateralization and its reflection in handedness. This chapter reviews the current corpus of knowledge regarding the association between PTSD and lateral preference through the presentation of these perspectives and the introduction of an alternative complementary model.