Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity differs in right and left human temporal lobes

Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity was studied in different areas and in sequential sections of the cortical layers in the first temporal gyrus of left and right hemispheres of four human brains. The ChAT activity values obtained in all the samples from left hemisphere were significantly higher than in the right hemisphere. Furthermore, the study of ChAT activity in the cortical layers in Brodmann area 22 shows a greater left prevalence of enzymatic activity in cortical layers II and IV. The biochemical data seem to suggest a possible morphologic and/or functional difference between the two hemispheres.