Related to the issue of left-handers more often making right-handed prints than right-handers making left-handed, it seems that the underlying variable of interest in associations between left-handedness and various cognitive aspects is the degree rather than the direction of handedness.
Left-handedness confers the adversarial performance advantages you mention; mixed-handedness correlates with the adverse cognitive outcomes; left-handers are more likely to be weakly-handed (more ambidextrous) than right-handers.
Years ago I remember reading that hand preference was related to brain lateralisation, and left-handed individuals were thought to have a stronger right hemisphere dominance. This might have been down to birth stress and the right brain being less effected by hormone levels.
I have since read that no one knows for sure as there are so many factors to take into consideration. Still, as a leftie I will never tire of reading the data and speculations around possible reasons for the percentage.
I must also add though that once upon a time in my teenage years I decided to have a go at Thai-boxing. I quickly ascended through the ranks and was even asked to teach class. So your article has shone another fascinating light onto the pros and cons of being left handed.
I'd probably still be teaching or training it if it wasn't for a trip to Thailand where I got kicked in by an eight year old in a Bangkok gym. I lost interest in the sport after that.
I can't remember if the kid was left or right handed. I only remember seeing elbows.
Related to the issue of left-handers more often making right-handed prints than right-handers making left-handed, it seems that the underlying variable of interest in associations between left-handedness and various cognitive aspects is the degree rather than the direction of handedness.
Left-handedness confers the adversarial performance advantages you mention; mixed-handedness correlates with the adverse cognitive outcomes; left-handers are more likely to be weakly-handed (more ambidextrous) than right-handers.
see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3560368/
Ha! Proves what I always told my LH best friend... He's a freaking mutant :)
Thank you for this.
Years ago I remember reading that hand preference was related to brain lateralisation, and left-handed individuals were thought to have a stronger right hemisphere dominance. This might have been down to birth stress and the right brain being less effected by hormone levels.
I have since read that no one knows for sure as there are so many factors to take into consideration. Still, as a leftie I will never tire of reading the data and speculations around possible reasons for the percentage.
I must also add though that once upon a time in my teenage years I decided to have a go at Thai-boxing. I quickly ascended through the ranks and was even asked to teach class. So your article has shone another fascinating light onto the pros and cons of being left handed.
I'd probably still be teaching or training it if it wasn't for a trip to Thailand where I got kicked in by an eight year old in a Bangkok gym. I lost interest in the sport after that.
I can't remember if the kid was left or right handed. I only remember seeing elbows.