Torque, lateral preference, and cognitive ability in primary-grade children.

It has been suggested that torque, the tendency to draw circles in the clockwise direction, is related to left-handedness and is a marker for psychopathology. Results of recent studies conflict with this hypothesis but are weakened by imprecise definition and unreliable assessment of torque. Measures of torque, lateral preference, and cognitive ability were administered to 181 children in kindergarten and first grade. As reported previously, rate of torque decreased with age and was greater among males. Children with complete clockwise or counter-clockwise circling at both assessments differed in pattern but not in overall level of cognitive ability. No differences were found in strength, direction, or concordance of hand and foot preference. Results of this and other studies are seen as inconsistent with proposals that torque is symptomatic of psychopathology.