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A student writes with their left hand. In human biology, handedness is an individual's preferential use of one hand, known as the dominant hand, due to it being stronger, faster or more dextrous. The other hand, comparatively often the weaker, less dextrous or simply less subjectively preferred, is called the non-dominant hand.
Left-handers who were forced during childhood to use their right hand showed a larger surface area of the central sulcus in their left hemisphere, which is associated with right-handedness. Also, structures in the basal ganglia such as the putamen also mirrored developmental right-hand dominant individuals in the forced group. [8]
The concept of "right-brained" or "left-brained" individuals is considered a widespread myth which oversimplifies the true nature of the brain's cerebral hemispheres (for a recent counter position, though, see below). Proof leading to the "mythbuster" of the left-/right-brained concept is increasing as more and more studies are brought to light.
Left-handed people only make up about 10% of the world's population — so you might be surprised to learn how many of them have been world leaders, artists, well-known athletes, award-winning actors.
Some people may, for instance, use their right hand for writing, and their left hand for playing racket sports and eating [2] (see also: cross-dominance). Also, it is not uncommon that people preferring to use the right hand prefer to use the left leg , e.g. when using a shovel, kicking a ball, or operating control pedals.
The Edinburgh Handedness Inventory is a measurement scale used to assess the dominance of a person's right or left hand in everyday activities, sometimes referred to as laterality. The inventory can be used by an observer assessing the person, or by a person self-reporting hand use.
James A. Garfield (March 4, 1881 – September 19, 1881) was ambidextrous; [11] he was the only known left-handed president prior to the 20th century. [4]Harry S. Truman (April 12, 1945 – January 20, 1953) was left-handed as a child, [4] he wrote with his right hand and used his left for most other activities.
[citation needed] Since many everyday devices such as can openers and scissors are asymmetrical and designed for right-handed people, many left-handers learn to use them right-handedly due to the rarity or lack of left-handed models. Thus, left-handed people are more likely to develop motor skills in their non-dominant hand than right-handed ...