Finger temperature was recorded bilaterally from 29 right handed test anxious females while they listened to a tape describing test taking situations. Subjects also completed the A-State and A-Trait anxiety inventories, the Test Anxiety Inventory, the Irrational Beliefs Test, and the Differential Personality Questionnaire. A significant temperature decrease in response to the test anxiety tape was observed on the left but not the right hand. A difference score reflecting greater decrease in left than right hand temperature was significantly correlated with five trait variables, indicating a relatively greater left hand decrease in subjects with higher trait anxiety, more irrational beliefs, a poorer feeling of well being, being more reactive to stress and less assertive in social situation. These results support a greater role of the right hemisphere in autonomic response to stressful situations. (Author/RD)