MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: What is the effect of changing the child from left handed to right handed

Date: Thu Apr 28 11:33:18 2005
Posted By: Alex Goddard, Grad student, Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 1114679892.Gb
Message:

Hi-

     As far as I can tell, making a left-handed person write with their right (non-dominant) hand does not cause any significant harm. The little research I could find suggested that a spectrum of handedness exists; people fall along a right handed -- left handed continuum. Furthermore, the more dominant the left hand (as measured by reaction times, strength, etc), the less likely the person will be able to switch to writing with their right. Thus, if you're writing with your right hand, the implication is that your left hand is slightly less dominant than a person who couldn't make the switch.

     That being the case, I can't think of a reason to re-train yourself to use your left hand instead of your right. If your right hand works, use it! You may find that it's not too hard to train your left hand to write, in which case, you may be able to reap the benefits of being ambidextrous (such as switching hands when you get writer's cramp, impressing people at parties...). You may also find that for certain activities, like throwing a ball, your left is stronger than you right. But that will take some training and time to develop.

     Handedness is sometimes due to a switch in the 'lateralization' of the brain, but not too often. A basic description of handedness and how it relates to brain lateralization can be found here: http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/brain.html

     some more info, both social and scientific, can be found here: http://handedness.org/

     Hope that helps!

-Alex G
cgoddard@fas.harvard.edu


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