Sensory Nerve Conduction Velocities are Higher on the Left than the Right Hand and Motor Conduction is Faster on the Right Hand than Left in Right-Handed Normal Subjects

Abstract

Lateralization in the sensory and motor nreve conduction velocities was studied in right-handed normal subjects. The nerve conduction velocities (NCVs) were measured in hands. Sensory NCVs were found to be higher on the left hand than the right hand. The motor NCVs did not show a statistically significant difference between the right and left hands. However, the motor conduction velocity measured from median nerve to the action potential from abductor pollicis brevis muscle was found to be significantly higher in the right hand than the left hand. It was concluded that fast conducting neuromuscular junctions on the right hand muscles would contribute to relatively fast right hand in right-handers. Relatively fast conducting sensory nerves in the left hand may contribute to a relatively better perception by the right cerebral hemisphere in right-handers.

Key Words:

• Handedness
• laterality
• motor nerve
• sensory nerve