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Prenatal maternal stress from a natural disaster predicts dermatoglyphic asymmetry in humans

Suzanne King^a1a2 c1, Adham Mancini-Marïe^a3, Alain Brunet^a1a2, Elaine Walker^a4, Michael J. Meaney^a1a2 and David P. Laplante^a1

^a1 Douglas Hospital Research Centre

^a2 McGill University

^a3 Fernand-Séguin Research Centre

^a4 Emory University

Abstract

Dermatoglyphic asymmetry of fingertip ridge counts is more frequent in schizophrenia patients than normal controls, and may reflect disruptions in fetal development during Weeks 14–22 when fingerprints develop. However, there are no data in humans linking specific adverse events at specific times to dermatoglyphic asymmetries. Our objective was to determine whether prenatal exposure to a natural disaster (1998 Quebec ice storm) during Weeks 14–22 would result in increased dermatoglyphic asymmetry in children, and to determine the roles of maternal objective stress exposure, subjective stress reaction, and postdisaster cortisol. Ridge counts for homologous fingers were scored for 77 children (20 target exposed [Weeks 14–22] and 57 nontarget exposed [exposed during other gestation weeks]). Children in the target group had more than 0.50 SD greater asymmetry than the nontarget group. Within the target group, children whose mothers had high subjective ice storm stress had significantly greater asymmetry than those with lower stress mothers, and maternal postdisaster cortisol had a significant negative correlation with the children's dermatoglyphic asymmetry (r = −.56). Prenatal maternal stress during the period of fingerprint development results in greater dermatoglyphic asymmetry in their children, especially in the face of greater maternal distress.

Correspondence:

^c1 Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Suzanne King, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Boulevard, Verdun, Quebec H4H 1R3, Canada; E-mail: suzanne.king@douglas.mcgill.ca.

Footnotes

This study was supported by grants from the McGill University Stairs Memorial Fund, the Canadian Institute of Health Research, and the Douglas Hospital Research Centre, and by a research fellowship from the Fonds de la recherche en santé du Québec (all to S.K.). The authors thank Shannon Woo and Cheryl Chanson for data entry; Lorraine Dubois, Delphine Goubau, and Lindsay Crooks for fingerprinting the children; Shakti Sharma for conducting the cortisol assays; and Claire-Dominique Walker for preparing cortisol sampling instructions for subjects.