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. 1987 Jul;50(7):870–876. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.50.7.870

Detection threshold for percutaneous electrical stimuli: asymmetry with respect to handedness.

W G Friedli, P Fuhr, W Wiget
PMCID: PMC1032125  PMID: 3625210

Abstract

Sensory strength-duration curves were obtained using percutaneous true square-wave pulses ranging from 0.1 to 20.0 ms produced by an isolated constant current stimulator. In 119 healthy volunteers sensory thresholds were measured bilaterally by stimulating the distal phalange of the little finger. In order to examine the relationship of sensory threshold and handedness the latter was assessed by means of the Edinburgh Inventory. An asymmetry of sensory threshold was found for all the subjects and this was more pronounced with shorter stimuli. Of right-handers tested 73.5% had a lower threshold on the left side while 70.8% of left-handers had a lower threshold on the right side. Although threshold asymmetry is associated with handedness this is not necessarily due to cerebral lateralization.

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Selected References

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