Another line of research has examined possible cerebral hemispheric asymmetries in the regulation of different neurotransmitter systems. For example, Tucker and Williamson (1984) claimed that there is abundant evidence for greater serotonin regulation of right hemisphere systems and greater catecholaminergic and cholinergic regulation of left hemisphere systems. Perhaps the genetic anomalies noted in previous sections of this paper (Temperament in relation to alcoholism) reduce the regulatory capacity of serotoninergic systems in selected right-hemisphere sites concerned with processing emotions. If so, it would follow that an individual would be more vulnerable to episodes of negative affect and the use of alcohol to cope. Thus, a vicious cycle would be perpetuated.
