Right-handedness

Someone who is right-handed will prefer to use this hand for everyday activities, such as writing, maintaining personal hygiene, cooking and so forth. According to a variety of studies, anywhere from 70% to 90%Cite web|url=http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=00063C8D-61EF-1C72-9EB7809EC588F2D7 |title=Why are more people right-handed?|accessdate=2008-04-14|publisher=Scientific American Inc|year=1997|author=Holder, M. K.|work=Sciam.com] Psychology for A-level "second edition, page 309"] of the world population is right-handed, while most of the remaining are left-handed. A small percentage of the population can use both hands equally well; a person with this ability is deemed to be ambidextrous.

Right-hand dominance

There is no prevailing theory that explains why right-handedness is so much more prevalent than left-handedness.. Neurologically, the motor skills of the right side of the body are controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain, so researchers believe the explanation may ultimately be found in the differences between the two halves of the brain. For example, a recent study found that right-handers use the right side of the brain to focus on an entire image, but the left side of the brain to focus on details within an image. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4242419.stm BBC website] ] . This observed difference, like many others, shows the effects of right-handedness but does not clearly indicate its cause.

Left/right-footedness and ocular dominance

Right-handed people have been known to be left footed.

Being right-handed does not always mean that the favoured foot is also on the right side. When playing soccer for instance, many people prefer using their left foot rather than the right, despite being right-handed. [ [http://toddlerstoday.com/resources/articles/lefthand.htm Toddler Today website] ]

People typically also have a dominant eye, a preference known as ocular dominance. There is only a weak correlation between being right-handed and left eyed. [Porac C, Coren S. "Is eye dominance a part of generalized laterality?" Percept Mot Skills. 1975 Jun;40(3):763-9. PMID 1178363.]

Theories explaining right-hand dominance

*Brain hemisphere division of labor: The premise of this theory is that since both speaking and handiwork require fine motor skills, having one hemisphere of the brain do both would be more efficient than having it divided up.

Right-handedness in society

In the past, many schools around the world forced left-handed children to write right-handed. In Hinduism, the right hand must be used for all auspicious and respectful activity, including eating, giving, receiving, and worshipful offering. The left hand is used in times of inauspiciousness, as a sign of disrespect, and for wiping oneself after using the bathroom. In Islam as well, one is required to use the left hand for tasks such as wiping oneself after using the bathroom and the right hand for eating. [ [http://www.truthandgrace.com/muslimrestrooms.htm Muslim Restrooms] ]

A very good number of technological devices are made primarily for right-handers; examples of everyday objects primarily designed for right-handers include refrigerators, scissors, microwaves, can-openers, computer mice, and padded kitchen mittens (padded on one side only). Left-handed golf clubs are more difficult to find than right-handed ones. Many classical-era Japanese swords were (and even modern cooking knives are) favored to cut more efficiently for the right-hander. Musical instruments such as guitars are also set up for right-handers, although one can usually find a similar, yet reversed shape to play left-handedly. Military rifles designed to be shot only from the right shoulder have resulted in injuries from spent cartridge casings hitting left-handers in the eye and head. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4242419.stm BBC NEWS | Health | Left-handers have different view ] ]

ee also

*Asymmetry
*Handedness
*Footedness
*Ocular dominance
*Orthodox stance in boxing

References