Hair Whorl Direction: The Association with Handedness, Footedness, and Eyedness

Dev Neuropsychol. 2020 Jan-Feb;45(1):17-26. doi: 10.1080/87565641.2019.1700419. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Abstract

Hair whorl direction and handedness were stated to have a common genetic basis in the random recessive model. This study was carried out with a total of 317 healthy young males. The association between hair whorl swirling direction and handedness, footedness and eyedness were assessed. The direction of hair whorl was clockwise at a rate of 76.7%, and counter clock wise at a rate of 23.3%. There was no significant association between hair whorl direction and handedness, footedness, and eyedness (p > .05). The results indicate that hair whorl swirling direction is not an evident marker of functional laterality.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Dominance, Ocular / physiology*
  • Functional Laterality / physiology*
  • Healthy Volunteers
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Scalp / anatomy & histology*
  • Young Adult