Why ambidexters are good at both hands and is it worth learning

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The life hacker understands the causes of a rare phenomenon that many consider a sign of genius.

In almost 90% of people, the left brain knows what the right hand is doing is dominant, the rest is left. And only about 1% of the population is ambidextrous. They perform all tasks equally well with both hands.

There are also people who change hands for different tasks. For example, they write with the right, but the ball is thrown with the left. This is called mixed hand dominance. It often occurs when playing musical instruments. For example, guitarists, pianists, and drummers use both hands successfully while playing. Only each of them is trained for different actions.

These people are not ambidextrous. They will still find it difficult to write or eat with their non-dominant hand. Ambidexters, on the other hand, do not have such difficulties: it is equally easy for them to hammer in a nail, brush their teeth or hit a tennis ball with both their right and left hands.

What explains ambidexterity

So far, scientists know little about the causes of ambidexterity and, in general, why this or that hand becomes the leading one. But research has shown that Handedness and hemispheric language dominance in healthy humans is a link between hand preference and asymmetry in the cerebral hemispheres.

The left and right hemispheres are associated with Lateralization of functions in the vertebrate brain: a review with different mental functions. This division of tasks helps the brain conserve energy and process information faster. This is not to say that the left hemisphere is responsible for logic, and the right one for creativity: this is too rough an oversimplification of An Evaluation of the Left-Brain vs. Right-Brain Hypothesis with Resting State Functional Connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging. However, the hemispheres are not symmetrical in structure and function.

In the process of development of the organism, speech centers are formed in one of the hemispheres. Most often - in the left. And it is also responsible for the work of the right limbs.

Therefore, there is a theory that explains the number of right-handers in terms of evolution. According to her, the left hemisphere has become dominant because of the importance of the language skills for which it is "responsible." It also controls the right hand, which is why most people have become right-handed. Among other primates, the dominance of the right hand is not so common. Some individuals prefer Comparative and Familial Analysis of Handedness in Great Apes to use it, but this does not cover the entire population.

However, this theory is not complete. Many animals, including An assessment of handedness in mice, ‘Handedness’ in the Pacific tree frog and fish, have a preference for one side, although they cannot talk.

Ambidextrous brains are more symmetrical. And if the hands perform tasks equally well, then both hemispheres are associated with the same functions. Until scientists agree on whether this is an advantage or a disadvantage.

Is it worth developing ambidexterity

It is not known exactly how learning this skill affects the brain. While various trainings promise that using the non-dominant hand strengthens connections between neurons and enhances creativity, no evidence has been found for this.

Some scientists even consider Handedness and intellectual achievement: An even-handed look that congenital ambidexterity is associated with problems in speech and reading, as well as attention deficit. It is speculated that this is due to rivalry between the cerebral hemispheres. Asymmetry has evolved so that each hemisphere is specialized in specific functions.

In a symmetrical ambidextrous brain, the hemispheres receive the same sensory information. And this, perhaps, slows down the thinking processes.

However, so far all these are only hypotheses. There is no evidence that working with a non-dominant hand will lead to psychological problems. Therefore, it's up to you to decide.

How to train your non-dominant hand

1. Write or draw with both hands at the same time. To prevent the piece of paper from moving on the table, secure it with something. At first, the words and pictures will be very crooked, but after a couple of weeks, it will turn out better. The main thing is to exercise at least a little every day.
2. Write with your non-dominant hand. For example, learn how to write the alphabet in uppercase, lowercase, and italics. Find a pen that slides easily over the paper and practice daily.
3. To make it easier to write, do not grip the pen too hard, or your hand will hurt. If you are right-handed, rotate the piece of paper 30 degrees clockwise. If left-handed - 30 degrees against.
4. Write with your dominant hand while looking in the mirror. You will see what your non-dominant hand will look like while writing. This will make it clearer how to arrange it, and the picture will be deposited in the brain.
5. Strengthen the muscles in your non-dominant arm. Lift dumbbells or just something heavy, gradually increasing the weight.
6. Try to cook with your non-dominant hand. Do not use the knife: it can be dangerous. Beat the eggs and combine the ingredients in a bowl.
7. Do her simple daily tasks: brush your teeth, hold a spoon, bounce the ball off the floor and walls.
8. Gradually move on to difficult, non-hazardous tasks. Only do them with your non-dominant hand to strengthen the skill. However, keep in mind that if you start using both hands too early, the dominant will still have an advantage, as you have used it all your life.