The raised incidences of strong left-handedness and of mixed-handedness in homosexual men, as in dyslexics, are mutually consistent under the normal distribution function, as expected by the right shift theory of handedness. It is argued that atypical laterality in these groups is better described as a “reduction of right shift” than as a “left shift”. Annett, M. (1988). Comments on Lindesay: Laterality shift in homosexual men. Neuropsychologia, 26(2), 341-3.
Surveying several studies on gay and lesbian neurological and endocrine system features I am struck by the male maturational delay, female maturational acceleration paradigm. This is what I hypothesize for autism and Aspergers.
McCormick and Witelson (1991) noted specific neurological differences between heterosexuals and homosexuals with McCormick, Witelson and Kingston (1990) observing greater numbers of lefthanders among both lesbians and gays. Stress increases testosterone levels in woman. Dorner, Schenk, Schmiedel, and Ahrens (1983) observed that increased stress in a pregnant woman increases the chance of a homosexual son. Annett (1988) notes the higher percentages of left handedness among gays, compared that to dyslexics and suggested that this increased the likelihood of anomalous dominance or two cerebral hemispheres the same size.
Understanding autism involves exploring similar patterns in other conditions exhibiting maturational delay and acceleration.
