Surface electromyography was used to verify the lateral dominance in 100 six to fourteen years old normal children. Electromyographic records were obtained during verbal stimulation. Dexterity was found in 90, sinistrality in 3 and indefinite dominance in 7 patients. Comparing with results from clinical examination, the electromyography seems more accurate and easy to perform. The responses obtained after verbal stimulations were attributed to a psychomotor phenomenon. Mechanisms involved in the production of muscle contractions after verbal stimulation, were not proved. Pharmacologic action of cathecolamines on the central motor neural subsystems is advanced.
lateral dominance; psychomotor mechanism; electromyography