Why are some people left handed?

1. 60

   stuff4kidsposted 11 years ago

   Why are some people left handed?
   
   You most likely have met someone who is left-handed - or you may be left-handed yourself. But what causes this difference from the norm? How common is it? Is it experienced as a handicap or does it make no difference to your daily life? I'd be especially interested to hear experiences from left-handed people...
   
   

   replyreport
2. 0

   JThomp42posted 11 years ago

   Researchers who study human hand preference agree that the side of the preferred hand (right versus left) is produced by biological and, most likely, genetic causes. The two most widely published genetic theories of human hand preference argue that evolutionary natural selection produced a majority of individuals with speech and language control in the left hemisphere of the brain. Because the left hemisphere also controls the movements of the right hand--and notably the movements needed to produce written language--millennia of evolutionary development resulted in a population of humans that is biased genetically toward individuals with left hemisphere speech/language and right-hand preference. Approximately 85 percent of people are right-handed. These theories also try to explain the persistent and continuing presence of a left-handed minority (about 15 percent of humans).

   replyreport
   1. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you! That's great information.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      JThomp42posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You are very welcome.

      replyreport
3. 61

   nicholetposted 11 years ago

   I don't know what makes someone left handed but I have 2 family memebers that are left handed. Have you ever tried to teach someone from the other dominant hand how to do things? I am right handed and had to teach someone left handed to write.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi, do you mean that you had to try and teach them to write with the right hand rather than the left? I know that some time ago this was commonly done in schools but now each student can write as they most feel comfortable.

      replyreport
   2. 61

      nicholetposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      taught them to use the left hand to write. My niece is left handed and all the kids in the family are right handed. I home school my 2 younger kids, my 2 nieces and 1 nephew. She didn't want to be different.

      replyreport
   3. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi nicholet. I understand now. It is very hard for kids when they feel they are going to be different to everyone else.  And well done for home schooling - mine were, too

      replyreport
4. 85

   peachpurpleposted 11 years ago

   my son was initially left-handed. The 1st time he held a pencil or spoon, it was his left-hand. He never tried to write with left hand but I changed his habit to right handed. My hubby said I shouldn't have done that. Left-handed people are genius too.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That's interesting. I'm sure you did what you thought was best for your son but I have heard that really it's best to accept left-handedness as a natural thing.

      replyreport
5. 67

   Hezekiahposted 11 years ago

   I believe that it's because the right side of the brain is more developed than left. In Japan most people are right handed, but for Japanese letter writing, you start on the left and read down, so a left handed writer would seem more convenient.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Hezekiah, that is really interesting information. I hadn't thought about different ways of reading and writing in different cultures. Thank you so much for bringing that to my attention, I really appreciate it.

      replyreport
6. 70

   ratnaveeraposted 11 years ago

   Though it seems a genetic factor, I have heard of the fact that right part of the brain is responsible for the activities of left side body and vice versa. So, it's clear that the right part of brain may be sensible and more active for  left handed persons. Thanks Stuff4kids for this Great question.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      stuff4kidsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks ratnaveera. Yes, that would make sense with the idea that left-handed people are often very creative as I have heard that it is the right side of the brain that deals with all that kind of stuff. Fascinating. Thanks for your contribution.

      replyreport