PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Szabo, C. Akos
AU  - Xiong, Jinhu
AU  - Lancaster, Jack L.
AU  - Rainey, Lacy
AU  - Fox, Peter
TI  - Amygdalar and Hippocampal Volumetry in Control Participants: Differences Regarding Handedness
DP  - 2001 Aug 01
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
PG  - 1342--1345
VI  - 22
IP  - 7
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/22/7/1342.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/22/7/1342.full
SO  - Am. J. Neuroradiol.2001 Aug 01; 22
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Amygdalar and hippocampal volume measurements indicate a right-greater-than-left asymmetry for right-handed normal participants in most studies. The purpose of this study was to compare amygdalar and hippocampal volume ratios between right- and left-handed participants.METHODS: Amygdalar and hippocampal volume measurements were performed in 34 (20 right-handed and 14 left-handed) normal participants. All participants completed a 10-item handedness questionnaire. The MR imaging sequence was a 3D T1-weighted gradient-echo acquisition of the whole brain (24/6 [TR/TE]; flip angle, 25 degrees). MR images were spatially normalized, and volumes were painted with a 1.0-mm3 resolution cursor on an SGI workstation.RESULTS: In right-handed participants, the amygdala and hippocampus (P < .001 for both) were significantly larger on the right side than on the left. The left-handed group did not show a significant difference between right- and left-sided structures. Right-to-left volume ratios differed significantly between right- and left-handed participants for both amygdalar (P < .02) and hippocampal (P < .01) structures. Gender did not affect right-to-left amygdalar and hippocampal volume ratios in right- or left-handed participants.CONCLUSION: Handedness, but not gender, seems to affect right-to-left amygdalar and hippocampal volume ratios.