Gender and environmental influence on laterality functions among preclinical students of the University of Benin, Benin City

Abstract

Background: A semi‑structured questionnaire was designed to ascertain laterality functions in randomly sampled population of 400 preclinical students of the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Frequency in use of limbs in physical activities categorized as: Always if (>80%), usually if (>50–80%), or equally if (50%) of cases was used in grading this perception. Three hundred and sixty‑three questionnaires with well‑generated data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 16.0, Chicago IL, USA).

Results: Results revealed significant difference (P < 0.05) in the choice of limbs, but there was no significant (P > 0.05) influence from gender, physical disability, or indoctrination on the choice. 43.86% males, 33.86% females claimed to use the right‑hand always; 1.38% males, 0.83% females use the left‑hand always; 0.55% males, 0.84% females use the left‑hand usually; 8.54% males, 5.23% females use the right‑hand usually; and 3.84% males, 2.75% females use both hands equally. On use of the foot, 26.45% males, 19.83% females initiate staircase climbing with the right foot always; 6.34% males, 4.13% females do the same with the left foot always; 14.69% males, 11.30% females use their right foot usually; 4.13% males, 4.96% females use the left foot first usually; and 5.79% males, 0.03% females use the right and left foot equally.

Conclusion: The majority of the respondents were right‑handed and right‑footed, thus suggesting left cerebral hemispheric laterality in the population.

Keywords: Environmental influence, gender, laterality functions, preclinical students